Workshop Series: Habitat Connectivity and Biodiversity in the Champlain Valley
Sponsored by The Vermont Master Naturalists Program, Middlebury Area Land Trust, and Otter Creek Audubon.
Every corner of the planet, including Vermont, faces urgent challenges from accelerating climate change. Among the most profound impacts is the steep decline in the biodiversity of flora and fauna. This is particularly troublesome since in many ways, biodiversity provides major building-blocks to greater resilience to climate change. Not only are pressures coming from global warming but also from increased and/or insensitive development and human uses of the lands.
These workshops are focused on one element important to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity: habitat connectivity. Each landowner can look at their parcel with the lens of what habitat connectivity they might provide and how to support and enhance it. We will explore what each person can do-whether they own 400 acres, 80 acres or a modest backyard.
(1) Backyard Mapping Tools for Understanding Habitat Connectivity and Biodiversity
Wednesday, February 16th, 2022; 7:00-8:00PM
Online Workshop via ZOOM
Join Tina Scharf, local wildlife biologist, for a workshop introducing practical mapping technologies that can be used in your local neighborhood. With the lens of simple mapping tools, Tina will highlight the ability to better understand the role of habitat connectivity and biodiversity in our own backyards. She will draw on examples of this from her work mapping the diverse Ganley-Roper land in Weybridge and the neighboring Collins Conservation Farm.
This workshop provides a wonderful backdrop to a live wildlife tracking and habitat workshop with Tina to follow (on SAT. 2/19) on the Ganley-Roper land. This workshop is FREE, but donations to any (or all!) of the sponsoring organizations are strongly encouraged and appreciated!
Participants must register by registering through this link: https://forms.gle/6Yei9BYQMUSCgFtr8. If you have problems registering, please contact Bill Roper: william.roper0599@gmail.com
(2) Backyard Wildlife Tracking and Habitat Identification
Saturday, February 19th, 2022
Two workshops (limited to 12 participants for each):
9:30-11:30am OR 1:00-3:00pm
Join local wildlife biologist, Tina Scharf, for a winter wildlife walk focused on tracking and animal habitat within the 80 acres of the Ganley-Roper land in Weybridge. Tina will highlight how this land has been thoughtfully mapped and managed to better understand habitat connectivity, biodiversity, and the many creatures that depend on this ecosystem.
This workshop is FREE, but donations to any (or all!) of these organizations
are strongly encouraged and appreciated! Attending the online Backyard Mapping workshop (on 2/16) is not required for this workshop, but highly recommended!
Participants must register by registering through this link: https://forms.gle/6Yei9BYQMUSCgFtr8. If you have problems registering, please contact Bill Roper: william.roper0599@gmail.com
AND Mark your calendars! More workshops coming this spring…
*Saturday, May 21st, 2022- Backyard Bird Habitat and Connectivity with Mark LaBarr of Vermont Audubon.
*Wednesday, June 8th, 2022- The Bigger Picture: Habitat Connectivity and Biodiversity Mapping of The Champlain Valley, an online workshop via Zoom with Monica Pryzperhart of Vermont Master Naturalist Program.
Nov 28, 2024, 6 to 7:30 PM
Annual Holiday Shoppe & Craft FairNov 30, 2024, 9 AM to 3 PM
Ferrisburgh Selectboard Meeting Dec. 3Dec 3, 2024, 6:30 PM