Long Island Invasive Species Management Area (LIISMA)

Practical Approaches to Managing Amur Honeysuckle
2026-07-15 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Flowers and buds in the leafage of Lonicera maackii in mid May

Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is an invasive shrub native to eastern Asia that was widely planted for ornamental use and wildlife habitat. It is now established across much of the eastern and midwestern United States, where it forms dense understory thickets that outcompete native plants, reduce plant diversity, and alter forest structure and ecosystem processes.

Join Kaleb Baker of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission for a practitioner focused webinar that translates recent research into practical, on the ground management guidance for landowners and land managers. This session will cover how to identify Amur honeysuckle, summarize its ecological impacts, and explore management options and challenges faced in the field.

Native Plants in Your Garden
2026-07-13 17:00 - 18:00
Location: Shelter Island Public Library (37 North Ferry Road, Shelter Island, NY 11964)

Native plants are the ideal choice for Long Island gardeners because they are robust, attractive, and provide vital support for local pollinators. Community members can join Cornell Cooperative Extension at the Shelter Island Public Library to discover an array of handsome native plants that can easily be incorporated into any landscape.

For more details, visit the Cornell Cooperative Extension Event Page.

iMapInvasives Training & Guided Walk
2026-06-27 15:00 - 17:00
Join the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area (LIISMA), the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock (UUCSR) and the Port Washington Watershed Biodiversity Coalition for a hands-on workshop and nature walk.

This event participants can expect to learn how to use iMapInvasives, a mobile-friendly platform used to report and track invasive species across the region. After a brief training session, we will head out for a guided walk to practice identification skills in the field.

Event Details

Location: 48 Shelter Rock Road, Manhasset, NY 11030

Contact: 516-627-6560 | uucsr.org

Registration: Space is limited! Please register online here to secure your spot.

What to Bring: Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a smartphone with the iMapInvasives app pre-installed if you wish to practice reporting during the walk.

Southern Pine Beetle Impacts in Massachusetts: Online Information Meeting for Landowners and Natural Resource Managers
2026-06-16 09:00 - 12:15
Details: Outbreaks of southern pine beetle are occurring in Massachusetts. This online informational meeting is open to anyone seeking identification, suppression and management information about this small but significantly impactful neo-native bark beetle. Presented by the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange’s (NAFSE) Southern Pine Beetle Working Group and the U.S. Forest Service.

Webinar Agenda

​9:00 AM – 9:15 AM: Introduction/Housekeeping/Objectives – Polly Weigand (Forest Stewards Guild and NAFSE) and Kevin Dodds (U.S. Forest Service)

9:15 AM – 9:40 AM: Southern Pine Beetle Biology – Caroline Kanaskie (University of Maine at Fort Kent)

9:40 AM – 10:05 AM: Overview of Southern Pine Beetle in New York – Jess Cancelliere and Rob Cole (both from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation)

10:05 AM – 10:30 AM: Status of Southern Pine Beetle in Massachusetts – Felicia Hubacz (Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation)

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM: Break

10:45 AM – 11:10 AM: Southern Pine Beetle Management Options in Pitch Pine – Kevin Dodds (U.S. Forest Service)

11:10 AM – 11:35 AM: Pitch Pine Restoration Across Massachusetts – Jake McCumber (Massachusetts Army National Guard)

11:35 AM – 12:00 PM: Massachusetts Southern Pine Beetle Plan – Mark Faulkenberry (Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation)

12:00 PM – 12:15 PM: Q & A Session

More details available here.

Register Here

Communicating strategies for the prevention of IAS in two countries in Latin America - Virtual
2026-06-11 14:00 - 15:00
Invasive species are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide and different countries have taken different approaches to communicating this to society taking into account culture, language, and local traditions. Let’s hear about two countries in Latin America, Mexico, part of NAISMA, and Chile, on the other side of the continent and learn about the differences and similarities in tackling this common problem.

This webinar is being presented as part of PlayCleanGo Awareness Week, a collaborative initiative led in partnership with NAISMA, Invasives Canada, CONABIO, and partners across North America to help prevent the spread of invasive species. To learn more, visit PlayCleanGo.org.

Featuring:

Sergio Benavides Avendaño is a natural resource conservation engineer with a master’s degree in biodiversity, protected areas, and biological invasions. He is the co-founder of Naturaleza Intrusa (Intrusive Nature), a science outreach initiative focused on biological invasions, which has organized the Week on Biological Invasions in Chile since 2019. Since 2023, he has worked in the invasive alien species management program at the Ministry of the Environment.

Yolanda Barrios is the head of the department of invasive species at the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) in Mexico where she has worked for almost 20 years. She brings together her knowledge on invasive species and studies in science communication in workshops and talks for the general public and other stakeholders in different sectors.

What’s on Your Boots? Seeds, Invasive Species, and Landscape-Level Patterns from Boot Brush Stations at Elk Island National Park - Virtual
2026-06-10 14:00 - 15:00
Seed dispersal is a natural process that helps keep ecosystems healthy and resilient. However, when people visit parks, they can unknowingly carry seeds on their boots—including seeds from invasive plants—which can change what grows where. Programs like PlayCleanGo help reduce this risk by encouraging visitors to clean their gear and by providing opportunities to educate visitors and monitor seed movement. In this talk, we’ll share results from a pilot study using PlayCleanGo boot brush stations at Elk Island National Park. We found that visitors can carry up to 4,000 viable seeds in just one litre of soil, with more than 30,000 viable seeds collected at boot brush stations over a single summer. In total, 57 plant species were identified—about half of which were only found through visitor dispersal—and more than 50% were non-native. Notably, visitor-dispersed seeds were consistent across trailheads and independent of visitor volume, highlighting that visitor activity can actively homogenize the landscape and drive significant ecological change.

Speaker: Charlotte Brown is an Ecologist Team Lead at Parks Canada, based at Elk Island National Park and an Adjunct Professor in the Biological Sciences Department at the University of Alberta. Her work focuses on invasive plant management, bison management, ecological monitoring, and supporting evidence-based decision-making to maintain ecosystem health. Charlotte completed her Ph.D. in Ecology at the University of Alberta, where her research examined species interactions and the processes shaping native grassland communities. She has since held postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Arizona and Université de Sherbrooke, where she studied long-term vegetation change and responses to global change. Her current work bridges science and management, applying ecological research to real-world conservation challenges in Canada’s protected areas.

Visit PlayCleanGo site for more information.

FREE a TREE Volunteer Day, Wawapek Preserve
2026-06-10 10:00 - 12:00
New York Invasive Species Awareness Week (NYISAW) partners across the state are joining forces to raise awareness and inspire action.

Join our partner, North Shore Land Alliance, for an invasive species workday. Invasive vines, originally introduced as ornamental plants, pose a serious threat to our native trees and forests. As they climb, they block sunlight and airflow, trap moisture that can lead to rot, harbor pests, and even strangle trunks. at Wawapek preserve to remove these vines, push back invasive species and give our trees a chance to thrive.

Help them free 250 trees from vines by July Fourth! Visit their site for more information

When? Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Starting at 10:00 am

Where? Wawapek Preserve, Mowbray Lane, Cold Spring Harbor

Advance registration is required. For more information, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Leigh McLaughlin, at leigh@northshorelandalliance.org.Event Changes and CancellationsEvents are subject to change so please check their website for updates.

Register Here

Learn To Map Invasive Species Using iMapInvasives
2026-06-09 13:00 - 14:00
New York Invasive Species Awareness Week (NYISAW) partners across the state are joining forces to raise awareness and inspire action.

We’re teaming up with the Quogue Wildlife Refuge to host a virtual iMapInvasives training session, where participants will learn how to document and report invasive species using the state’s official monitoring database. Join us on Zoom for this free event.

Registration Here

West Meadow Beach Invasive Species Walk
2026-06-09 11:00 - 12:00
New York Invasive Species Awareness Week (NYISAW) partners across the state are joining forces to raise awareness and inspire action.

Join our partners GEI and Town of Brookhaven for a Guided Invasive Walk at West Meadow Beach! Learn about how invasive species impact local ecosystems, identify various invasive plants, and engage in discussions about conservation. This event is perfect for nature enthusiasts and anyone interested in environmental stewardship.

11:00 am – 12:00 pm at West Meadow Beach, 100 Trustees Road, Stoney Brook, NY 11790

RSVP to join us!

Saving the Sagebrush Sea: Protecting Washington’s Sagebrush Biome from Noxious Weeds - Virtual
2026-06-08 14:00 - 15:00
How one idea to protect the fragile shrub-steppe ecosystem from noxious weeds led to a multi-jurisdictional collaboration statewide. Come learn how the Washington Invasive Species Council built numerous partnerships focused on noxious weed prevention. Working closely with the PlayCleanGo campaign, these efforts led to the installation of more than 50 educational boot brush stations in Washington.

Jan Fore, Executive Coordinator, Washington Invasive Species CouncilJan is the Executive Coordinator for the Washington Invasive Species Council. She previously served as a public affairs role working with the National Wildlife Refuge System for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Jan also brings invasive species experience from the opposite corner of the US, where, she worked at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, coordinating with multiple agencies, the public, and stakeholders to provide invasive species outreach and education. She managed statewide programs including the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, Python Patrol, and the Florida Python Challenge.

This webinar is being presented as part of PlayCleanGo Awareness Week, a collaborative initiative led in partnership with NAISMA, Invasives Canada, CONABIO, and partners across North America to help prevent the spread of invasive species. To learn more, visit PlayCleanGo.org.

Water Chestnut Pull at Massapequa Preserve
2026-06-08 09:30 - 12:30
New York Invasive Species Awareness Week (NYISAW) partners across the state are joining forces to raise awareness and inspire action.

Get ready to roll up your sleeves! The Long Island Invasive Management Area (LIISMA) is teaming up with NYSDEC for a Water Chestnut Pull at Massapequa Preserve, and we want YOU out on the water with us!

We’ll be hand‑pulling water chestnut to help protect our freshwater ecosystems, support native species, and keep these waterways healthy. It’s hands‑on, it’s impactful, and it’s a great way to spend a June morning making a real difference.

Join us, bring a friend, and be part of the crew taking action for Long Island’s natural spaces.

9:00 am – 12:30 pm at Massapequa Lake – Merrick Rd, Massapequa, NY 11758

Behavior Change Training: Supporting PlayCleanGo Outreach and Action - Virtual
2026-06-03 15:00 - 16:30
﻿﻿In preparation for PlayCleanGo Week (June 6–13), Invasives Canada, in partnership with the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA), is hosting a behaviour change training webinar to help partners strengthen their outreach and engagement efforts through the PlayCleanGo program.

Creating awareness is an important first step, but lasting conservation impact requires motivating people to take action. This webinar will explore behavioral psychology, community-based social marketing strategies, and practical approaches for encouraging stewardship behaviors that help prevent the spread of invasive species. Participants will also learn how these concepts are being applied through the PlayCleanGo program, with insights and tools that can be adapted to a wide range of conservation and outreach initiatives.

Speaker: Ken Donnelly, Executive Director, Invasives Canada. For more than thirty years, Ken Donnelly has combined research and behavioral psychology to foster positive individual behaviors in environmental conservation. For more than 12 years, his focus has been primarily on the human dimension of invasive species. Ken is a researcher, strategist, trainer, and speaker.

Visit PlayCleanGo site for more information.

Register Here

NYSDEC’s Annual Water Chestnut Pulls 2026
2026-06-03 09:30 - 2026-07-17 12:00
Join Us to Care for Long Island’s Lakes!

Volunteer with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to help manage water chestnut populations and support the vibrant health of our local waterways. Your hands-on support helps protect the natural beauty of Long Island’s lakes, ensuring they remain wonderful spaces for everyone to enjoy now and in the future.

Event Details

Where: Mill Pond Preserve (Wantagh) and/or Massapequa Lake (Massapequa)

When: [Insert Dates/Times]

How to Join: Find the best date and location for your schedule and sign up using the Registration Form.

Why Volunteer With Us?

Nurture Local Biodiversity: Water chestnuts tend to spread quickly and crowd out native plants. By helping us manage them, you give native aquatic life the space and resources they need to thrive.

Support the Long Island Outdoor Community: Your efforts keep our waters clear and accessible for favorite local traditions, from peaceful morning fishing to weekend kayaking adventures.

Gear & Contact Information

We’ve Got You Covered: The DEC will provide chest waders for volunteers working along the shoreline and kayaks for select participants.

Questions? Reach out to Carlos Morantes Ariza, Aquatic Invasive Species Program Coordinator for DEC Region 1

Email: carlos.morantes-ariza@dec.ny.gov

Invasive Species Identification Training & Guided Walk
2026-06-02 10:00 - 11:00
New York Invasive Species Awareness Week (NYISAW) partners across the state are joining forces to raise awareness and inspire action.

Join LIISMA and the North Shore Land Alliance for a guided invasive species walk at the Humes Preserve, where participants will discover how to spot invasive plants and learn about the challenges they pose to our local ecosystems. It’s a great opportunity to connect with nature and support conservation efforts close to home.

Location and time: Humes Preserve – 349 Oyster Bay Road, Mill Neck, NY 11765 at 10:00 am

This event is free, but advance registration is required. For more information, please contact North Shore Land Alliance Volunteer Coordinator, Leigh McLaughlin, at leigh@northshorelandalliance.org.

INVASIVE SPECIES WORKDAY at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge
2026-05-30 10:00 - 12:30
Looking for a way to give back to nature and spend some time outdoors? Join the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for an Invasive Species Work Day to help tackle multiflora rose and other invasive plants impacting our local ecosystems.

When: Saturday, May 30 | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Where: Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters (340 Smith Road, Shirley, NY 11967)

What’s Provided: Work gloves, tools, insect repellent, snacks, and water refills will be available for all volunteers.

What to Bring: Please wear sturdy, close-toed shoes, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and long clothing (long sleeves, light-colored long pants, and long socks) as we will likely encounter ticks. Don’t forget to bring your own refillable water bottle!

Important Info:

Volunteers under the age of 18 must have parental permission.

All participants will need to complete a Volunteer Services Agreement (VSA), which will be sent to you upon RSVP.

Supplies and equipment are limited, so day-of attendees will be permitted as capacity allows.

How to Register: Space is limited! Please RSVP directly to Terra Willi at Terra_Willi@fws.gov or via call/text at 631-848-7152. (In the event of bad weather, registered volunteers will be contacted directly regarding cancellations.)

Come out, enjoy the refuge, and help us protect Long Island’s beautiful native habitats!

LIISMA Partners Meeting & Workshop
2026-05-29 10:00 - 13:00
Join us for our next Partners Meeting & Workshop, which will be held on May 29th.

Featured presentation:

Partner Spotlight: Quogue Wildlife Refuge with Kim Stever, Development Coordinator

Elm Zigzag Sawfly in NY with Nick Durinzi, SUNY ESF Master’s Student

Invasive Species Management with Frank Piccininni, Spadefoot Design & Construction

Meeting Location: Building 4 at the Sisters of Saint Joseph Campus in Brentwood (1725 Brentwood Road, 11717). The meeting will be held in La Providencia Auditorium in building 4. Click here for directions to building 4.

Tickets are free, but advanced registration is required. RSVP above to join us in person or register for virtual attendance here. Light refreshments will be served. Email cassandra@liisma.org with any questions. See you there!

Zoom Registration Link

Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week Webinar Series: EAB from crisis to opportunity: managing & growing a resilient urban forest in Minneapolis, MN
2026-05-21 13:00 - 14:00
Presentation by: Philip Potyondy, Smart Tree Management Practice Lead, Davey Resource Group, Inc

The loss of ash trees to Emerald Ash Borer was a major opportunity to establish a more diverse and resilient urban forest. This generational opportunity was not squandered. Learn how Minneapolis used thoughtful, deliberate, multi-scaled tree selection guidelines to select a diverse mix of trees, even with considerations for future forest pests and a changing climate. Philip will also share a few key takeaways while managing the spread of EAB and also about a few new technologies for monitoring the urban forest and assisting with tree selection

Register Here

Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week Webinar Series: Ash-kicking Outreach in Oregon and Washington
2026-05-20 13:00 - 14:00
Presentation by: Alex Meacham, Firewood Outreach Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy

In the wake of new detections and regulations in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), the Don’t Move Firewood campaign is diving deep into the states of Oregon and Washington seeking opportunities for new relationships and expanded networks of communication on the firewood-forest health connection. Meet Alex, our new firewood outreach specialist, who is making the PNW his sole focus for six months. Learn about his structured situation analysis, action plan, and implementation management project that systematically seeks new input and expands partnerships from interested parties in the PNW.

Register Here

Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week Webinar Series: Resistance to EAB is real – here’s what we can do to help restore ash in the future
2026-05-19 11:00 - 12:00
Presentation by: Carolyn (Carrie) Pike, Regeneration Specialist, USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region – State Private and Tribal Forestry

Emerald ash borer has decimated eastern forests, especially in lowland or riparian forests where green ash is dominant. I will discuss how resistance breeding may help us retain ash on the landscape in a post-EAB world and share findings of a recent publication (Mason et al. 2026) that demonstrated heritable resistance in green and white ash.

Register Here

Annual Earth Day Celebration at Quogue Wildlife Refuge!
2026-04-25 12:00 - 15:00
Join the Quogue Wildlife Refuge and the Eastern Long Island Audubon Society for a day of nature, education, and family-friendly fun! Celebrate our planet with a variety of outdoor activities, wildlife encounters, and eco-friendly initiatives.

When: Saturday, April 25 | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Rain Date: Sunday, April 26

Where: 3 Old Country Road, Quogue, NY

Admission: No reservations necessary; great for all ages!

Event Highlights:

Wildlife & Nature: Enjoy guided birding walks, meet live animal ambassadors, and participate in a native plant sale with the Long Island Native Plant Initiative.

Outdoor Fun: Self-guided kayaking and canoeing on Old Ice Pond, plus face painting and crafts for kids.

Giveaways: Free native saplings provided by Bartlett Tree Experts.

Food: Treats available from Hampton Coffee Company and the ‘Land and Sea Smokehouse’ food truck.

Sustainability Drive (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle):

Bring the following items for proper disposal or repurposing:

Balloons: Latex and mylar balloon recycling with Balloon Mission.

Electronics: E-waste recycling with EcoTech Management.

Household Goods: Furniture and appliances in good condition for Habitat for Humanity Suffolk ReStore.

Medication: Prescription drug takeback with the Quogue Village Police Department.

City Nature Challenge 2026: Long Island
2026-04-24 00:00 - 2026-04-27 23:59
Join the 2026 City Nature Challenge!

We are excited to announce that LIISMA is partnering with the iNaturalist ambassador program to support the first-ever City Nature Challenge (CNC) on Long Island!

What is it?

The City Nature Challenge is a global community science “bioblitz” organized by the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The goal is to document as many wild organisms as possible to create a massive open-access database of local biodiversity.

Event Details

Dates: April 24th – April 27th, 2026

Location: Anywhere on Long Island! (Your backyard, local parks, or nature preserves)

How to Participate: Simply take photos of wild plants, animals, and fungi and upload them to the iNaturalistapp.

Why Participate?

By joining in, you help scientists and conservationists (like us at LIISMA!) better understand our local ecosystems. Your observations help us track native species and identify the spread of harmful invasive species across the island.

Get Involved

Follow the Project: Check out the official iNaturalist project page for live updates.

Stay Connected: Follow the City Nature Challenge Long Island Instagram for tips and highlights.

Earth Day Volunteer Invasive Removal Event with Lunch and Tour
2026-04-22 10:00 - 14:00
Celebrate Earth Day: Invasive Removal, Lunch, and Tour

Join the Sisters of St. Joseph Sustainability Team at the Brentwood Campus for a hands-on day of ecological restoration and community. This Earth Day, volunteers will work together to remove invasive species and plant native flora in the South Leach Meadow, a vital area for the local water supply.

When: Wednesday, April 22 | 10:00 am – 2:15 pm

Where: Meet at the front of the Convent (Building 3), 1725 Brentwood Road, Brentwood, NY.

Cost: Freewill Offering.

What to Wear: Comfortable shoes and clothes that can get dirty.

Event Schedule:

10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Invasive Plant Removal & Planting

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch & Conversation (Registration required)

1:00 pm – 2:15 pm: Guided Campus Sustainability Tour

Registration: Participants joining for lunch must register in advance here. Attendees are welcome to join for any or all portions of the day.

Register Here

Earth Day Workdays with Seatuck
2026-04-22 09:00 - 14:00
Join the Phrag Fight at West Brook!

Help Seatuck Environmental Association protect the newly free-flowing West Brook at Bayard Cutting Arboretum. Since the dam failed in 2019, the brook is flowing naturally for the first time in a century, creating a rare and vital habitat for migratory fish like Alewife and sea-run Brook Trout.

Volunteer to remove invasive Phragmites (common reed) at West Brook. Seatuck has several week day and weekend dates for Spring 2026. Please register below.

Upcoming Spring 2026 Work Days:

Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day!)

Saturday, May 2

Location:

Main Parking Lot Connetquot River State Park Preserve4090 Sunrise Hwy, Oakdale, NY 11769

Ready to help? Please contact kmattei@seatuck.org to express your interest or to sign up for future events. Together, we can ensure West Brook remains a healthy, wild corridor for Long Island’s wildlife.

Save the Woodlands - Controlling Invasive Plants​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌​‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‍​‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌​​‍​‌‍​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​​‍​‍​​‌‍​‍‌​‌​​​‍​​‌‍‌‍​‍‌​‍​​​‍‌‍​​​‍​‍‌​​‍​​‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​​​​​‌​​​‌‍​​‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌​‌‌​‌​‍‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‍​‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌​​‍​‌‍​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​​​‍​‍​​‌‍​‍‌​‌​​​‍​​‌‍‌‍​‍‌​‍​​​‍‌‍​​​‍​‍‌​​‍​​‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​​​​​‌​​​‌‍​​‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌
2026-04-18 10:00 - 12:00
LIISMA will be joining the Peconic Land Trust for a hands-on stewardship event at Broad Cove!

Join us on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, where we will be working together to protect our local woodlands. This workshop, led by the LIISMA team alongside the Peconic Land Trust stewardship team, is designed to empower you with the skills to identify and manage invasive species in our landscape.

What We’ll Be Doing:

Identification: Learn how to spot common invasive plants that threaten our local ecosystem.

Best Practices: Discover the most effective, science-based methods for removal.

Active Restoration: Get your hands dirty and help us clear invasives from this beautiful site!

Location & Logistics:

Where: Broad Cove (Overlook Drive, Riverhead).

Note: For GPS, use “Lighthouse Deli and Catering” at 363 Meeting House Creek Rd, Aquebogue, to find the driveway for the parking lot.

Cost: Free! However, reservations are required so we can ensure we have enough equipment for everyone.

What to Bring: Please bring work gloves and a shovel or loppers if you have them. We will provide additional hand tools and refreshments.

Safety: Tick protection is strongly recommended. This event is rain-cancels and appropriate for ages 15 and up.

Let’s work together to keep Long Island’s woodlands healthy and resilient!

Phrag Pull Workday with Seatuck
2026-04-18 09:00 - 14:00
Join the Phrag Fight at West Brook!

Help Seatuck Environmental Association protect the newly free-flowing West Brook at Bayard Cutting Arboretum. Since the dam failed in 2019, the brook is flowing naturally for the first time in a century, creating a rare and vital habitat for migratory fish like Alewife and sea-run Brook Trout.

Volunteer to remove invasive Phragmites (common reed) at West Brook. Seatuck has several week day and weekend dates for Spring 2026. Please register below.

Upcoming Spring 2026 Work Days:

Saturday, April 18

Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day!)

Saturday, May 2

Location:

Main Parking Lot Connetquot River State Park Preserve4090 Sunrise Hwy, Oakdale, NY 11769

Ready to help? Please contact kmattei@seatuck.org to express your interest or to sign up for future events. Together, we can ensure West Brook remains a healthy, wild corridor for Long Island’s wildlife.

Earth Day at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge
2026-04-18 09:00 - 16:00
Earth Day at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge

Date: Saturday, April 18th, 2026 Location: Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, 340 Smith Rd, Shirley, NY

Celebrate Earth Day with a day of nature and community action! The event features a variety of activities for all ages:

Immersive Nature Walk (9:00 am – 10:30 am): A mindfulness walk led by certified Forest Therapy guide Linda Lombardo. Registration is required.

Trailhead Habitat Restoration (10:30 am – 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm): Join a biologist-supervised session to remove invasive species and plant natives. Tools and lunch are provided for volunteers. Registration is required.

Family-Friendly Trail Walk (10:30 am – 4:00 pm): A self-guided scavenger hunt and free nature crafts. No registration is required.

For more information, you can contact wertheimfriends.programs@gmail.com.

Earth day final flyer (1)Download

Earth Day Workdays with Seatuck
2026-04-08 09:00 - 14:00
Join the Phrag Fight at West Brook!

Help Seatuck Environmental Association protect the newly free-flowing West Brook at Bayard Cutting Arboretum. Since the dam failed in 2019, the brook is flowing naturally for the first time in a century, creating a rare and vital habitat for migratory fish like Alewife and sea-run Brook Trout.

Volunteer to remove invasive Phragmites (common reed) at West Brook. Seatuck has several week day and weekend dates for Spring 2026. Please register below.

Upcoming Spring 2026 Work Days:

Wednesday, April 8

Saturday, April 18

Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day!)

Saturday, May 2

Location:

Main Parking Lot Connetquot River State Park Preserve4090 Sunrise Hwy, Oakdale, NY 11769

Ready to help? Please contact kmattei@seatuck.org to express your interest or to sign up for future events. Together, we can ensure West Brook remains a healthy, wild corridor for Long Island’s wildlife.

Resilient Long Island Symposium
2026-03-19 17:30 - 2026-03-21 14:00
Resilient Long Island is a symposium in which community members, researchers, and professionals are invited to learn how to foster resilient ecological communities. After learning about native plants, invasive species management strategies, restoration practices, and more, attendees will be inspired to take action. Whether you are interested in the ecology of your backyard or tools for professional management, this event has something for everyone.

Hosted by the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area and the Long Island Native Plant Initiative at Hofstra University– and other locations– expect three action-packed days of presentations, an interactive workshop, a happy hour poster session, and more!

Making NYC a Nature City
2026-03-19 05:30 - 20:00
Location: Elebash Recital Hall, CUNY Graduate Center

Cost: Free (Registration Required)

Overview

In a city often defined by its skyline, the “Making NYC a Nature City” symposium shifts the focus to the vital, yet often undervalued, biodiversity within the five boroughs. This event brings together a diverse panel of scientists, community leaders, and policymakers to discuss how New York can transition from a concrete jungle to a thriving “Nature City.”

Featured Speakers

The panel features a wide range of experts across the environmental sector, including:

Marielle Anzelone (NYC Biodiversity Task Force)

Novem Auyeung (NYC Parks)

Brett Branco (Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay)

Sara Evans (Green-Wood Cemetery)

Aurelia Casey (Gowanus Canal Conservancy)

Jessica Kaplan (Riverside Park Conservancy)

Kelly Vilar (Staten Island Urban Center)

Adam Guzman (Hunter College)

Register Here

Long Island Horticulture Conference
2026-03-03 07:30 - 16:30
Brookhaven National Laboratory

Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County invite you to join them for the 36th Annual Long Island Horticulture Conference! Landscapers, nursery growers, arborists, landscape architects and designers, turf managers, and others in the horticulture industry throughout Long Island and beyond are invited to attend.

LIISMA will be hosting an informational table with resources on invasive species management and native plant alternatives. Stop by, meet the team, and learn more about current initiatives across Long Island.

Online registration is open.Pre-registration fee is $85 per person. After February 26th, registration fee is $100. Space is limited. Walk-ins may not be allowed.

REAL or Enhanced ID or passport needed for entry into Brookhaven National Lab.

Long Island Horticulture Conference
