By: Melody Cerniglia, LIISMA Early Detection and Rapid Response Manager
On March 7-9, 2024, the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area (LIISMA) and Long Island Native Plant Initiative (LINPI) jointly hosted their second biennial Resilient Long Island Symposium. The event proved to be a great success, with special thanks to LIISMA’s Education and Outreach Manager, Kassidy Robinson, for coordinating the three-day event, alongside Program Manager Bill Jacobs, Conservation Area Manager Abigail Marino, and Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) Manager, Melody Cerniglia. Many thanks to the LINPI board, staff, and volunteers for their hard work. The LINPI Board and staff include Polly Weigand (Executive Director and Founder of LINPI), Greg Lowenthal (President), Robert Longiaru (Vice President), Pam Ireland (Nursery Manager), Maggie Muzante (Nursery Manager), Frances Roth (Treasurer), Colleen Doyle-Novara (Secretary), Taralynn Reynolds (Board Member), Kelly Ely (Board Member) and Chris Weisbecker (Board Member). We especially extend our gratitude to Seatuck Environmental Association, Hofstra University, and the Sisters of St. Joseph for providing our three event locations, as well as our sponsors for supporting this event (see end of article for list of presenters).
This symposium took place at the Suffolk County Environmental Center, located at the Scully Estate in Islip (co-hosted by Seatuck), Hofstra University (with hybrid online options), and the Sisters of St. Joseph Brentwood Campus. The event was supported by 17 speakers, 16 sponsors, and 200 attendees. We are especially grateful to our two keynote speakers, Chenae Bullock and Jeremy Dennis. On Thursday, March 7, during our poster session, we hosted contemporary fine art photographer and author Jeremy Dennis, who is an enrolled Tribal Member of the Shinnecock Nation, and leading artist and founder of the non-profit Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio, Inc. on the Shinnecock Nation Reservation. On Friday, March 8, we hosted CEO and Founder of Moskehtu Consulting, Chenae Bullock, an enrolled Shinnecock Nation citizen and African American descendant of the Montauk Tribe in Long Island New York. Chenae is a mogul, pioneer, Indigenous perspective historian, cultural practitioner, and public speaker.
The 2024 Resilient Long Island Symposium kicked off with our poster session and keynote presentation at the Scully Estate. A special thanks goes out to Enrico Nardone and the rest of the Seatuck staff for helping us make this portion of the event possible and helping it to run so smoothly. We also extend our gratitude to Bedell Cellars, a family-owned winery in Cutchogue, and Destination Unknown Beer Company in Bay Shore, both of which donated a generous amount of wine and beer for the occasion. Many thanks to Cornucopia Natural Foods in Sayville for providing us with delicious, organic finger foods. Following opening remarks by LIISMA, 22 professionals and students presented posters in a poster slam – a rapid-fire round of elevator pitches about the posters. Following the slam, audience members visited posters around the venue while socializing and enjoying local brews and snacks. See our complete list of poster presenters at the end of the article.
We ended the evening with our poster session keynote speaker, Jeremy Dennis. Jeremy gave his presentation, titled “On This Site – Native Long Island,” where he shared with us Long Island’s Native American cultural landscape. Since 2016, Jeremy has been researching, photographing, and sharing educational resources around local sacred, historic, and modern Indigenous sites on Long Island. The purpose of this project is to preserve and create awareness of culturally significant Native American locations on Long Island. This project presents an opportunity to reflect upon archaeological and oral histories to answer essential, culturally defining questions. His hope is to create curiosity for all audiences, as it creates a dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people on Long Island and legitimizes the Long Island Indigenous population beyond their borders on reservations.
Jeremy is compiling extensive information on the history of the Shinnecock Nation and other Indigenous tribes ancestral to Long Island. He spends hundreds of hours dedicating his time to digitizing historical records. This is of great importance, as many of these firsthand accounts would otherwise be lost in time. Some highlights of his presentation included information about cultural traditions, such as “Nunnowa,” the Shinnecock celebration of “thanksgiving,” as well as their annual Strawberry Festival, which will be explained in greater detail in the following paragraphs. Jeremy spoke of the importance of giving back to the land and highlighted the coastal restoration work of the Shinnecock Nation, such as replanting eelgrass and bringing in sand and boulders to restore the shorelines.
Jeremy elaborated on the history of the land, making mention of things like “shell middens” which are clam piles that have existed for thousands of years, essentially footprints of their Native ancestors. Lastly, he spoke highly of Shinnecock groups like the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers, a multigenerational group of female kelp farmers, and the Shinnecock Boys and Girls Club, dedicated to promoting a safe and educational environment to help enrich the lives of the Shinnecock youth. One quote that stood out about his presentation was that “… Indigenous communities protect 80% of all biodiversity but do not get a seat at the table.” It is essential that Indigenous communities have representation in today’s political and cultural climates so that we can all come together to better understand, celebrate, and show respect to the Native ancestral tribes that have called this land their home before us. We were honored to have Jeremy share his wisdom with us and look forward to more presentations like this in the future.
The second day of the 2024 Resilient Long Island Symposium on March 8 took place at the Hofstra University Campus, with special thanks to Dr. J Bret Bennington, Chair of the Geology, Environment, and Sustainability Department, for hosting us. The day commenced with opening remarks and introductions by LIISMA and LINPI, and a special land acknowledgment by our keynote speaker, Chenae Bullock.
Land acknowledgment is a traditional custom that dates back centuries in many Native American nations and communities. Today, land acknowledgments by Native and non-Native people alike recognize Indigenous Peoples who are the original stewards of the lands on which we now live. Cultural expression through language, song, tradition, and ceremonies are ways in which Native nations, communities, families, and individuals sustain their sense of belonging and connection to ancestral homelands. Following a very moving performance of an ancestral song and acknowledgment of the land and the Native tribes that have long stewarded this land, one quote by Chenae stood out: “We all have a responsibility, reciprocity, and stewardship to this land. I acknowledge the work that each and every one of you are doing for this land. Thank you.” Speaking and hearing words of recognition is an important step in creating collaborative, accountable, continuous, and respectful relationships with Indigenous nations and communities. As an event centered on land conservation, it was an honor to hear Chenae’s song and words in tribute to all walks of life that work together to steward the land, past, present, and future.
Following the land acknowledgment, we began our first session on “Local Ecology Updates.” Forester and Certified Arborist with NYSDEC Forest Health, Robert Cole, kicked off the day with his presentation, titled “Long Island’s Forest Health: Risks and Solutions.” Robert has led a variety of forest pest management projects across the state, with his current focus being on the long-term silvicultural practices that will improve forest resiliency to pest and disease outbreaks. Robert leads Central Pine Barrens restoration projects on NYSDEC lands on Long Island.
Robert’s presentation covered some of the risks to Long Island’s trees, including beech leaf disease nematode (Litylenchus crenatae mccannii), oak wilt (Bretziella fagacearum), and other common pests such as spongy moth (Lymantria dispar), southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis), and box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis). Robert highlighted the beneficial effects of prescribed fire, chemical, and cultural control methods for pests and diseases (at both the single tree and forest level), as well as long-term solutions to make Long Island forests more resilient to future risks.
Next up was the Extension Entomologist with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Suffolk County, Daniel Gilrein, with his presentation, titled “Not Exotic Enough: Invasive Pests Here, There, Everywhere.” Daniel has been with CCE since 1987, providing entomology education and outreach, diagnostic services, and applied research for agriculture and professional horticulture industries on Long Island.
Daniel’s presentation highlighted several invasive insect pests that are currently present on Long Island, as well as others that are migrating rapidly across state lines, with notes on the threats these pests pose to the environment. He detailed the issues of ongoing infestations of several pests such as spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), and box tree moth, which is expanding its range by twenty miles each year and has decimated nearly 70% of boxwoods in Europe alone. Daniel spoke about alternate hosts each pest might feed on, as well as some southern region pests like pepper thrips (Thrips parvispinus) which are making their way into New York through agricultural imports, and feed on important crops like peppers and beans, which could pose an impact on the agricultural industry. Lastly, Daniel mentioned that CCE is working on several biological control agents to better manage these pests on Long Island.
Following this, Northeast Ecological Practice Leader for GEI Consultants, Laura Schwanof, gave her presentation, titled “Living Shorelines – Applications, Benefits, and Shortfalls.” Laura conducts and trains GEI staff in ecological inventory, threatened and endangered species surveying, wetland delineation, habitat assessment, restoration, environmental permitting, and conservation planning.
Laura’s presentation elaborated on current issues facing coastal shoreline flooding and erosion. She discussed how to identify vulnerable areas and potentially mitigate the effects of rising sea levels and the increased risk of flooding due to human-caused climate change. In her presentation, a living shoreline is defined as a shoreline management practice that provides erosion control benefits. They protect, restore, or enhance natural shoreline habitat and maintain coastal processes through the strategic placement of plants, stone, sand fill, and other structural organic materials. Laura discussed that living shorelines are inherently flexible and sustainable shorefront protection systems that support ecological productivity and can adapt to rising sea levels. Some perceived benefits of living shorelines are that they are sustainable systems, absorb moderate storm surges, absorb and trap greenhouse gasses, and act as natural barriers to waves. Living shorelines improve water quality, provide fisheries habitat, increase biodiversity, and protect shorelines from erosion. Shortcomings of living shorelines include their site-specific nature, potential limitations in providing long-term protection across all situations, reduced effectiveness in high wind/high energy zones, limited availability of nursery sources for suitable plants, and ongoing evolution of regulatory strategies.
Next, our keynote speaker, CEO and Founder of Moskehtu Consulting, Chenae Bullock, gave her presentation, titled “Indigenous Wisdom, Plant Medicines and Beyond. Unveiling the Resilient Long Island.” Moskehtu Consulting is a Native American-owned cultural and heritage preservation firm whose purpose is to contribute to the social and environmental competence of clients and partners by enhancing their understanding of the natural world. Some of her most recent work has led her to assess for signs of submerged cultural history for the Atlantic Shores Cultural Core Analysis. Chenae successfully served as a Tribal Alternate on behalf of the Shinnecock Nation for the Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean. The committee facilitates coordination and collaboration among governmental entities and stakeholders to enhance the vitality of our region’s ocean ecosystems.
Chenae’s presentation focused on the resiliency of Long Island through history, from its Native American origins in inhabitants, culture, wisdom, and utilization of plants as medicine, to its current status as an increasingly developed land where conservation has become imminently more important than ever before, as very little of this “natural world” is left. As Chenae mentioned in her earlier land acknowledgment, “We all have a responsibility, reciprocity, and stewardship to this land.” Chenae began her presentation by defining the meaning of the word “Shinnecock” as translated to “people of the stony shores.” Chenae started with a meditation on a lost time, reimagining the calmness that was once Long Island. She brought our minds to a time when the people lived off of the land and were interconnected with nature, themselves, their tribe, their culture, and their survival.
Chenae described the ancient sustainable living practices of utilizing plants as medicine, shelter, and transportation. She taught us about tulip poplars (Liriodendron tulipifera) and their cultural use for constructing shelters and “mishoons” (canoes made from tulip poplar trees). Chenae taught us about the traditional use of sassafras (Sassafras albidum), mullein (Verbascum densiflorum), and rockweed (Fucus distichus) for medicinal, traditional, and celebratory purposes in Native American culture. Chenae elaborated on the role that sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty play in Native American cultural traditions, such as the annual Strawberry Festival, . This is a widely renowned and important Shinnecock Nation tradition, symbolizing the brightness of strawberries, the heart chakra, harvest, communal feasting, and forgiveness. Historical events were detailed as well, as she brought to light important moments in history such as Conscience Point – the first point of contact with the Indigenous Peoples of New York, and the Duke of York Laws – vicious laws designed to punish Native Americans for foraging, and the ways these historically abhorrent practices affected our relationship with Native Americans. Lastly, Chenae spoke of the ways that Native nations today support and teach climate adaptation and resilience, and how they share knowledge and education about historical events, the natural world, and cultural traditions. Chenae ended her presentation with a song of gratitude and thanks, and gifts of braided sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata) for our LIISMA staff. We were grateful and humbled to have been given such a culturally significant symbol of her appreciation, and it was an absolute honor to host Chenae as a keynote speaker.
Following the keynote presentation, we commenced our second speaker session on “Invasive Species Management and Research.” Ecological Programs Coordinator and Ecologist for the Native Plant Trust, Erik Sechler, gave his presentation, titled “Monitoring and Invasive Plant Management of a V. brittoniana Population at Old Calf Pasture, Concord, Massachusetts.” Old Calf Pasture is a 21-acre parcel owned by the Town of Concord, Massachusetts. This includes 10 acres of floodplain and 9 acres of riverside open meadow. The site is home to the largest known population of Britton’s violet in New England. The species occupies 2.5 acres of the site and contains approximately 2,666 plants. One of the largest threats to this population is the spread of the invasive glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus). Britton’s violet occurs in the same locations where glossy buckthorn is growing. This complicates the issue of management because glossy buckthorn is constantly resprouting, which presents an array of challenges.
The Native Plant Trust received funding from the Town of Concord via the State for Threatened and Endangered Plants of Massachusetts in 2009, to begin monitoring the Britton’s violet population and managing glossy buckthorn. Their goal was to restore habitat and increase populations of Britton’s violet on the property, by conducting annual monitoring of populations in long-term, established plots. Over a 14-year study, they evaluated the effectiveness of hand swiping of herbicide applications to glossy buckthorn within each plot. The results concluded that numbers seemed to be increasing, and then decreasing in 2023. The data was inconsistent due to climate inconsistencies, however, after shifting their management strategy towards source populations of glossy buckthorn, they saw more increased success in reducing the buckthorn population. While management challenges still remain, Britton’s violet numbers have increased at this site.
The second speaker in this session was Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University, Dr. Evelyn Beaury, with her presentation, titled “Building Consistent and Proactive Invasive Species Policies and Management.” Evelyn studies the spatial ecology and biogeography of plant invasions in the context of climate change. Her work includes research and outreach on the management and policy of invasive plants in the United States, working with stakeholders to proactively prevent invasive plant introductions.
Evelyn explained that extreme climate and weather events are creating new opportunities for invasions, and for competitive species to establish. Making matters worse, the horticulture trade industry is still widely known as the primary introduction pathway for invasive species to spread across state lines. She raised the issue that 83% of invasive species originally imported to the United States through horticulture are still commercially available today. This includes 350 invasive species that are prohibited by state or federal government regulations.
In collaboration with the Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Network (RISCC), a study was conducted on the distribution ranges of invasive species in the United States, where these sales occur in relation to species’ current and future ranges, and how effective policy mechanisms can be for reducing introductions. The data concluded that 146 species are being sold in the same state where they are regulated, retail nurseries average 21 km distance (but mail order nurseries average 1064 km), and 55% of species sold by a nursery exist within 20 km of an invasion. They also found that 82% of species had at least one nursery in their invaded range, and 28% of species had at least one nursery in future suitable ranges. The data strongly suggests that species are being inconsistently regulated across varying states. RISCC handed this information to state regulators across the United States and regulators then followed up with these nurseries. Evelyn concluded that climate change is resulting in invasive species range shift, and that, based on this case study, horticulture is responsible for rapid range infilling, leaving some species viable to slip through state regulations. Overall, more effective state policy and regulatory standards/ enforcement is needed to mitigate this issue in the United States.
During the midday break, attendees were encouraged to visit the wide array of posters displayed around the Hofstra Student Center Multi Purpose Room, as well as 25 tabling exhibitions displayed by our sponsors and many partners, who educated and engaged participants in the purposes of their organizations. We also hosted a silent auction during this time, where guests were encouraged to bid on exciting prizes, such as signed books, plants, delicious treats from local farms, local artwork, organizational giveaways, gift cards, memberships, and local beer and wine. We extend a special thank you to all those organizations and businesses who contributed to make the exhibitions and silent auction a success.
We commenced our first afternoon session titled “Lightning Local Management,” which consisted of a series of 15-minute “lightning round” presentations on local management projects by some of our Long Island partners.
The first of the three speakers was the Director of Environmental Sustainability for the Sisters of St. Joseph Campus in Brentwood, Amanda Furcall, with her presentation, titled “Land as Sacred Trust: Nurturing Ecology, Nourishing Community. The Sisters of St. Joseph are the caretakers of 212-acres of land in Brentwood and have made a conscious commitment to land stewardship. The Sisters believe that, as humans, we all have a duty to preserve, protect, restore, and cherish the integrity, biodiversity, balance, and beauty of the land, and all species we share it with.
Amanda’s role as Director of Environmental Sustainability includes a variety of initiatives, including forest and meadow stewardship, woodland restoration, stormwater management, and native garden design. There are sustainable landscapes and open spaces throughout the campus, and Amanda aims to manage this mixed landscape in a holistic way, integrating the human community with the natural community. Her presentation highlighted the work of the Ecological Sustainability Department, tending to this campus which encompasses 75 acres of woodlands, 7 acres of meadows and grasslands, dozens of native gardens, 28 acres of farmland under agricultural easement, a solar array, and sustainable waste treatment systems. Despite starting with ubiquitous lawn spaces—typical of Long Island’s estate-style properties—they are transforming these lands year by year into thriving native habitats by planting new restorative forests, focusing on the ecosystem recovery process, and setting goals to reduce lawn space and increase native regeneration.
The second speaker in our lightning session was the Aquatic Invasive Species Program Coordinator for the NYSDEC Region 1 Headquarters of Fisheries Management and Research, Carlos Morantes Ariza, with his presentation titled “Modeling Population Dynamics for Targeted Water Chestnut Management Across Multiple Fronts.” Carlos is a PhD student in the Theoretical Ecology Lab at the Stony Brook Ecology and Evolution program. He studies the dynamics that create and sustain biodiversity by implementing computational tools such as deep learning algorithms and systems modeling.
Carlos’ presentation introduced a novel approach to halt and reverse the invasive spread of water chestnut (Trapa natans) across diverse water bodies in Nassau County. Carlos determined that the high abundance of water chestnut in these water bodies prevents them from providing valuable ecosystem services they would normally provide. By leveraging mathematical models, he proposed that manipulating the carrying capacity and effective population control of water chestnut could be made possible through a combination of timely manual removal efforts, mechanical harvesting, and preventing substrate colonization. Carlos plans to source a greater number of volunteers from neighboring agencies and partners, as well as utilization of high school and college students across Long Island to join in taking part in these efforts while increasing their understanding and awareness of the importance of invasive species management in Long Island’s water bodies (and beyond).
The final speaker in this lightning round session was by Senior Landscape Ecologist (employed by Nelson Pope and Voorhis Engineering, Architecture and Land Surveying, PLLC) and Adjunct Professor with the Horticulture Department at Farmingdale State College, Rusty Schmidt, who gave his presentation, titled “Lespedeza cuneata Efficacy Study.” Rusty designs and constructs alternative methods for managing stormwater runoff, and has created hundreds of designs for habitat restorations, rain gardens, and sustainable landscaping. These projects range in size from small backyards to large, multi-acre-sized campuses and parks throughout the nation. Rusty is the co-author of three books: two regarding plant selections for stormwater management and one being a homeowner guide to constructing rain gardens.
Rusty’s presentation regarded a seeded and planted meadow in the Yaphank area that was overtaken by the invasive bushclover (Lespedeza cuneata), to a point where it had become the dominant species at the site. The meadow consisted of 40% native meadow species and 60% of the area was invaded by bushclover, as well as some mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). Some of the ecological effects of the invasive bushclover include that the species is long lived, with a very established rhizomatous root system (and deep tap root), as well as high water requirements, allowing it to compete readily with other native species for consumption, as well as surviving drought. It is most successful in nutrient-poor soils. It spreads rapidly and outcompetes native species and is thought to be allelopathic due to tannins which render the plant unpalatable to grazing. The plant produces large numbers of seeds that are easily spread by water, wind, and animal transport. These seeds can remain viable in the soil seed bank for many years.
After reviewing the available literature on the subject, Rusty determined that an integrated management approach seemed to be the best management option; a combination of prevention, physical, and chemical control would be necessary for effective control of the species. A trial of methodologies was tested on five plots, testing smothering, hand pulling, and two differing herbicide applications to determine the best methods of control. The results concluded that none of the bushclover survived the treatments, however, herbicide was the most successful, with only 6.1-6.3% regrowth rate, with hand pulling coming in second with 12.7% regrowth, and tarp smothering being the least effective, with a 28% regrowth rate.
Our second afternoon session was introduced on the topic of “Restoration and Native Plants.” Nursery Manager at the Native Plant Trust’s Nasami Farm, Alexis Doshas, kicked off the session with her presentation titled “Native Lawn Alternatives.” Alexis’s work includes running a small organic gardening business, working on restoration projects, and leading field research on the effects and mitigation of chronic atmospheric deposition of nitrogen on heathland communities of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Currently, she is the nursery manager at Native Plant Trust’s Nasami Farm, where they grow thousands of native plants from wild ecotypic seed to ensure genetic diversity and resiliency in our landscapes. Alexis teaches classes on propagation, native plants, and soil ecology.
Alexis’s presentation detailed how homeowners, land stewards, gardeners, and landscape professionals can better support biodiversity and resiliency in our green spaces by reconsidering traditional lawns with native alternatives and supporting healthy ecosystems through the use of native groundcovers. Alexis explained that the default setting for most homeowners tends to be a perfectly manicured lawn, which lacks biodiversity and habitat value. She explained that lawn care tends to be very resource heavy (including fossil fuels, fertilizers, pesticides, and increased water usage); in fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that 30,000 tons of pesticides are used per year to treat lawns. Alexis reviewed tips and techniques for landscape transformations and introduced a palette of native plants for various conditions. Alexis provided an extensive list of beneficial native alternatives that are great for pollinators. The full list of plants can be found in her presentation, posted on the LIISMA YouTube channel.
Our next speaker for this session was a Horticulturist at The High Line in Manhattan, Shelby Miller, who gave her presentation, titled “Wild Design at the High Line.” Shelby specializes in ecological horticulture and native perennial gardens. She is a graduate of the City University of New York (CUNY) and New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) Ornamental Horticulture program, where she specialized in native plants and ecological restoration. Shelby was the 2022 Horticulture Fellow on Governors Island, where she focused on the design and implementation of an urban forest renovation project in Hammock Grove. Shelby is currently a Horticulturist at the High Line, where she manages the Hudson River Overlook and the Sundeck at 14th Street.
Shelby started by giving an in-depth historical depiction of Manhattan as it existed pre-industrialization, colonization, and urbanization. She brought to light that Manhattan’s original inhabitants were the Lenape Native American tribes, who called the island Manahatta, which means “hilly island,” and others like the Muncey and Mohican tribes that once called the state of New York their home. The land was once rich with natural resources; Manahatta had an abundance of fruits, nuts, birds, and animals. As European colonizers drove the tribes out of Manahatta, they began developing the land for commercial and residential use, filling the wetlands with fill and paving it over to create the city that we know as Manhattan. By the 1830’s, the Hudson River had become the country’s most vital transportation thoroughfare, seeing the transport of goods from around the world, entering through New York and moving through the New York and Harlem railroads. In an effort to prevent accidental death by the railroads, in the 1920s, a plan was made to establish an elevated rail line, which came to be the New York City High Line. By the 1980s, however, a rise of interstate trucking and air travel resulted in a decline in railway use, and trains had stopped running on the High Line, leaving it abandoned for two decades, with vegetation freely inhabiting the tracks. In 1999, the founders of “Friends of the High Line” (Joshua David and Robert Hammond) met at a community board planning meeting about the future of this defunct railroad and later collaborated with famous landscape designer, Piet Oudolf, who became responsible for designing the High Line as it exists today.
Shelby’s presentation walked the audience through her experience as a Horticulturist and what led her to utilize plants native to New York. The primary focus in her talk centered on the influence of Piet Oudolf’s design aesthetic in public gardens and in the North American native plant trade through his implementation and popularization of four and five-season, naturalistic gardening practices. In collaboration with Piet, the staff uses mostly native species, and some cultivars to maintain a multitude of species and a year-round visual aesthetic, as the High Line hosts year-round horticulture tours for the public, and programming for visiting school groups. As of 2022’s most recent plant audit, the High Line has 166 species native to North America, with 127 of those species being native to New York. Shelby addressed the issues that land managers face in addressing the challenges of urban settings, and what can be done to maximize the potential of urban gardens as spaces for supporting biodiversity. Some challenges that remain at the High Line are shallow layers of soil on the railways, limited to no irrigation on site, pollution, and changing light conditions due to skyscraper construction. However, the staff has worked to install and create specific microclimates and differing garden niches to support changing conditions in an urban setting. The High Line in New York City is part of a larger High Line Network across the country. The High Line Network’s mission is to support a community of infrastructure reuse projects in creating vibrant and equitable public spaces. The High Line Network aims to contend with the effects of urbanization by creating functioning ecosystems, transforming underutilized infrastructure into new urban landscapes, and redefining what a public green space can be.
The final speakers in this session on restoration were Horticulturist and Horticulture Technician for NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP) at Bethpage State Park, Victor Azzaretto and Alexandra Roldos, with their presentation on “Growing Native Plants at Bethpage State Park.” Victor Azzaretto graduated from Farmingdale State College with a degree in Horticulture and has 15 years of experience as the Horticulturist at Bethpage State Park, where he has established an expansive nursery operation, growing mainly native wildflowers and grasses from seed. Alexa Roldos has a B.S. in Environmental Science and takes a special interest in invasive/native plant species identification and management. She has worked as the Horticulture Technician at Bethpage State Park since 2021, working alongside Victor and the Horticulture Department, servicing the park, while continuing to advance their expansive nursery operation.
The Horticulture Department at Bethpage State Park has an inventory of over 200 species of native wildflowers and grows thousands of native grasses annually. Collected seeds are shared in the park’s Community Seed Library as well as grown for planting at Bethpage and other State Parks on Long Island. Horticulturists Victor and Alexa strive to increase accessibility to native plants through the creation of public gardens at Bethpage State Park and the surrounding community. Their goal is to showcase native plants while educating staff, students, and volunteers about the benefits of these plantings and the importance of invasive species management. Victor and Alexa shared with us their experiences with native plant propagation, removal of invasive species (and replacement with natives), gardening with native plants, and ongoing restoration projects, including the restoration of a PSEG-LI right-of-way into a perennial and native grass meadow on the Bethpage State Park property.
Our final speaker session of the day concluded with the topic of “Volunteerism in Conservation.” The first of two speakers for this topic was Executive Director of the Long Island Volunteer Center, Diana O’Neill, who gave her remote presentation, titled “Seeking Outdoor Enthusiasts To Lead By Example.” Diana has been a leader in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years, helping expand the reach and impact of volunteer engagement to build community. She has mobilized countless volunteers to clean up natural areas, care for animals, create gardens at senior centers and veterans shelters, refurbish trails, and respond to the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy and other extreme weather events. She is committed to protecting Long Island’s natural resources and outdoor spaces.
Diana explained in her presentation that volunteers are the backbone of the nonprofit sector, especially those organizations committed to preserving the environment. The Long Island Volunteer Center is the regional center for volunteerism on Long Island. The Center provides a central hub for individuals and groups to connect directly with nonprofit organizations, raising the profile of volunteerism in the region, and increasing the number of new volunteers to meet community needs. One of their primary goals is to advance the reach and impact of nonprofit organizations dedicated to eradicating invasive species and making native plants a priority. The Long Island Volunteer Center engages and mobilizes volunteers through its online resource and referral system, VolunteerEasy, along with a variety of volunteer programs that serve Long Island. A list of 450 nonprofit partners with missions around environmental and conservation causes actively seeking volunteers can be accessed on the website, as well as currently posted volunteer opportunities for specific needs.
Our final speaker of the day was Botanist for Botany Visible and former Chief Botanist for New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP) and Program Coordinator of LIISMA, Steve Young, with his presentation titled “Botany Visible: How Botany Plays a Role in Invasive Species Programs.” Steve has recently retired from 31 years as Chief Botanist for NYNHP, where he explored natural areas throughout New York State inventorying and studying rare plants. He is currently involved with floristic and invasive species projects in the Adirondacks, Long Island, and the Capital District. Steve is a board director at the Wild Woods Restoration Project in Orange County and leads plant walks for various organizations around the state.
Steve’s presentation focused on how botanists’ efforts are indispensable in managing invasive plant species. Steve discussed the interdisciplinary nature of invasive species, spanning various biological and non-biological sciences. He elaborated on the many branches of botany and their crucial contributions to addressing invasive species. Steve explained that botanists often work and study in the background, providing information and techniques that benefit all aspects of invasive species work. Steve listed and described differing fields in invasive species work in relation to botany, mentioning professions such as plant ecologists who study the interactions between plants and their environment, and plant taxonomists who assist with identification and field surveys. He mentioned the role of plant physiologists that study how plants might be controlled using herbicides, and economic botanists that study how invasive species affect the economy of an area or how people may use new introductions. These are just a few of the many branches of botany. Lastly, Steve spoke about Botany Visible, which serves as an online resource for sharing information and updates in regard to botany with researchers, scientists, and community members. Steve’s presentation concluded day two of the 2024 Resilient Long Island Symposium.
The 2024 Resilient Long Island Symposium concluded with dual workshops on Saturday, March 9, at the Sisters of St. Joseph Campus in Brentwood, headquarters of LIISMA and LINPI. The two workshops were the Native Plant Propagation Workshop and Invasive Species Management Techniques & Restoration Successes Workshop. Both workshops had an indoor presentation component, followed by an outdoor interactive workshop component, where attendees were able to follow along firsthand on the techniques and skills required to perform restoration and invasive species management tasks and activities.
The Native Plant Propagation Workshop was led by Alexis Doshas, Nursery Manager at Native Plant Trust’s Nasami Farm. This workshop detailed the processes needed to cultivate native plants from seed to seedling. Alexis covered topics such as seed biology, seed dispersal mechanisms, germination codes, integrated pest management, and soil environment needed to effectively raise seedlings. Alexis gave a thorough demonstration of seedling cultivation in the greenhouses while participants followed along.
The Invasive Species Management Techniques & Restoration Successes Workshop was led by Amanda Furcall, Director of Ecological Sustainability at the Sisters of St. Joseph, and Luke Gervase, Ecologist and Invasive Species Specialist at GEI Consultants. This workshop took place at various locations on the 212-acre property. Amanda and Luke detailed techniques for terrestrial and aquatic invasive species management, the challenges that sometimes arise, and the ecological effects of restoring previously infested sites with beneficial native vegetation. Amanda and Luke covered topics such as the introduction to invasive species, methods and approaches of control, permitting requirements, timing as a critical component of management, and possible impacts of invasive species management on non-target species. They walked participants across campus and detailed the many management and restoration projects that their teams are involved in, and the processes required to restore ecological areas.
This concluded the 2024 Resilient Long Island Symposium. In keeping up with the theme of resilience, we believe that “Resilient Long Island” encompasses the idea that as a community of researchers, environmental stewards, and land managers, we share a common responsibility to encourage landscape resiliency to mitigate the effects of climate change, habitat displacement, and biodiversity loss. The collective goal of this biennial symposium is to foster education and awareness of these impending issues (past, present, and future) while providing solutions to these environmental problems while they are still manageable. LIISMA would like to extend a special thanks to all who participated in making this event a success.
