Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Forestry Internet Seminar: Ecology of Forest Invasions

Northeastern woodlands and those throughout the United States are experiencing dramatic increases in the arrival and abundance of invasive pests. Understanding the ecology of pest invasions and the effects they are likely to have on forest ecosystems will help us prepare for and respond to changes they evoke. On January 21, 2009 join Dr. Andrew Liebhold of the US Forest Service who will offer an Internet web conference presentation on "Non-native pest invasions and forest change." Dr. Liebhold will draw from decades of his research and others on forest ecosystem response to a variety of pest species.

ForestConnect is a program of Cornell University Cooperative Extension and offers the monthly Internet seminar series using web conferencing technology. The ForestConnect Internet Seminar Series is an interactive web conference and was the first of its kind in the US. Each seminar uses the Internet to distribute, or webcast, a live and interactive presentation. Since May 2007, web-based seminars have connected forest owners, managers, and practitioners from throughout the United States and overseas. More than 800 owners and managers from 40 states and three countries are registered and receiving announcements for the monthly webcasts.

Seminars occur on the third Wednesday of each month. Each webcast is provided live, twice. The initial broadcast each month is from noon to 1:00 PM with a repeat live broadcast the same day from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, Eastern Time. Participation is as easy as a high-speed internet connection via a web browser. Participants will connect to a secure Cornell Cooperative Extension server to join the presentation. Participants must pre-register once, without charge, at http://www.forestconnect.info/. Email notification of internet URL details for the web conference will be sent to everyone registered.

For program information: Peter Smallidge, Cornell University. pjs23@cornell.edu 607-592-3640 http://www.forestconnect.info/

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