Disturbance and Change, Invasive Plants and Paths to Recovery - a Joint Meeting of SE-EPPC and SE-SERI

Disturbance and Change, Invasive Plants and Paths to Recovery
a Joint Meeting of SE-EPPC and SE-SERI

Chattanooga, TN, May 11-13, 2010 (Tuesday-Thursday)

Hotel Information - Conference room rates available through April 16

Continuing Education Points and Tennessee pesticide recertification points will be available for attendees, other states to be applied for. 9 CEU's in categories 2, 6, 10 & 12 for Tennessee.

Join us May 11th through 13th for the first joint meeting between the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council and the Southeast Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration International. This will be an exciting meeting that brings together practitioners from the fields of restoration and invasive plant species research and management. Take this unique opportunity to network and learn together. The plenary and concurrent sessions will address Chattanooga's green initiatives, restoration of native grasses in the southeast, and the costs associated with invasive plants. The meeting will be held at the historic Sheraton Read House Hotel in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. Enjoy the beautiful Georgian architecture that placed this elegant hotel on the National Register of Historic Places.

Chattanooga is a thriving city surrounded by spectacular views and offering an abundance of educational, recreational, and historical tourism opportunities including the outstanding Tennessee Aquarium. A variety of outdoor recreational opportunities are available within a very short drive of the downtown area including hiking, whitewater rafting, and much, much more. Chattanooga is a progressive city that has been addressing invasive plant issues and climate change and is creating a healthy, prosperous city for all generations as a green community. To learn more about Chattanooga's Green Community Commitment log on to: http://www.chattanooga.gov/ChattanoogaGreen_ChattanoogaGreen.htm.

More Information about the Society for Ecological Restoration and it's Southeast Chapter.

Underwriters:

Sponsors:

The Devil Comes to SE-EPPC's Silent Auction in Chattanooga

Have you ever dreamed of challenging the Devil's violin skills in Georgia or Florida or North Carolina? A golden fiddle signed by southern rock legend Charlie Daniels awaits your best offer May 11 & 12 at SE-EPPC's Annual Meeting in Chattanooga! Do you have a special bookshelf in need of Tennessee's classic (and only) Flora? A copy of Augustin Gattinger's 1901 The Flora of Tennessee and a Philosophy of Botany will go to the highest bidder. Native plants for your landscape, the best in biological fashion (t-shirts and fleece jackets), other great books, and many more tempting items will be available. Come prepared to take home some pretty cool stuff!!

Plenary Speakers

Coping with Disturbance and Change: Identifying the Costs Associated with Invasive Plants in the Southeast
Don Hodges, University of Tennessee

Our 2010 featured keynote speaker Don Hodges, Ph.D., is a Professor of Forest Economics and Policy and Director of the University of Tennessee Natural Resource Policy Center. Don is a native of Knoxville and received his Bachelor of Science in Forestry from The University of Tennessee in 1982. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Forest Economics from the University of Georgia in 1985 and 1988, respectively. He has conducted research on the prescribed fire legislation in the southern U.S. and economic returns associated with investments in intensive forest management practices. His research program emphasizes the economic aspects of natural resource management and related public policies. Specific research areas include forest values, evaluation of forest policies, forest management and operations, and resource analysis.

Insights into the green initiatives being made within the city of Chattanooga.
Gene Hyde, City Forester for Chattanooga

Our first plenary speaker is Gene Hyde, City Forester for Chattanooga since 1990, current Chair of the Chattanooga Green Committee, and lead member of Mayor Littlefield's climate protection core group. His experience includes invasive plant control within the city of Chattanooga and he is an outspoken advocate for sustainable urban forestry. Gene is the past President and a former board member of the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council. He has served as Chairman for various committees of the Society of Municipal Arborists and is co-founder of the Arborist Exchange Committee based upon his professional experiences in Russia. He has contributed many articles to professional journals and has been featured as a speaker for many local, state, and national conferences. Served as a judge in various events during the Tennessee Tree Climbing Championship. Served as the ISA State Director for Tennessee 2004-2006. Employed as the City Forester in Chattanooga since 1990. Chair, Chattanooga Green Committee, 2007 - present.

Restoration of Native Grasses in the southeastern United States
Tom Barnes, University of Kentucky

Our second plenary speaker is Tom Barnes, Ph.D., Is a professor and extension wildlife specialist at the University of Kentucky, his primary research focus is on restoring native grasslands in the eastern United States with an emphasis on using herbicides for weed control and removal of exotic grass species. He has also conducted research on using herbicides to control Japanese spirea in the Big South Fork NRRA, dormant season Japanese honeysuckle control using herbicides, and wildlife nutrition issues. In addition he is the author, photographer and Kentucky Literary Award nominee for Kentucky's Last Great Places. Other notable books written and photographed include the popular Gardening For The Birds, The Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky, The Rare Wildflowers of Kentucky and his most recent, The Gift of Creation Images from Scripture and Earth. He is also the author of the award winning publication: Private Lands Wildlife Management and Technical Guidance Manual. He is also an internationally published outdoor and nature photographer with credits in publications around the world including Time-Life, National Wildlife Federation, numerous book publishers, magazines, and calendars.

Meeting Schedule

Tuesday, May 11

10AM-4PM	Registration
1-3:15PM	Two Plenary speakers, Keynote speaker
3:15-3:45	Break
3:45-5:15PM	Three concurrent sessions: Submitted papers
6:00-8:00PM	Social with cash bar, poster session with award for best student poster

Wednesday, May 12

7:30-10AM	Registration
8AM-12PM	Three concurrent sessions: Submitted
10-10:30AM	Break
12PM	Silent auction closes
12-2PM	SE-EPPC and SER annual meetings, lunch provided by organizations
2:15-4:15	Three concurrent sessions: Submitted papers

Thursday, May 13

8AM-4PM

Field trips

Hotel Information:

Sheraton Read House Hotel
827 Broad Street. Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 266-4121
Symposium on site

Conference room rates available through April 16

Government room rate is available at the Sheraton Read House Hotel. To get the government rate within the SE-EPPC-SERI room block, call the hotel to make your reservation. Request a room in the SE-EPPC-SERI meeting block at the government rate. Bring your paper work when you check in. If you have already made your reservation and need the government rate, please contact the hotel and tell them that you need the government rate for your room within the SE-EPPC-SERI room block. Bring your paper work when you check in. If you need assistance, contact Terri Hogan at 615-893-9501. If you have difficulty reserving a room within the SE-EPPC-SERI meeting block, please contact Jill Craddock of the Sheraton Read House Hotel at jcraddock@readhousehotel.com.

Please note that the hotel has a $50 early departure fee for those leaving early.