Woodland Academy: Invasive Plant Species in Connecticut: Identification, Ecology, and Management at Great Mountain Forest

Landowners, conservation practitioners, municipal staff, and land trust representatives can learn practical strategies for addressing one of Connecticut’s most significant environmental challenges during Invasive Plant Species in Connecticut: Identification, Ecology, and Management on October 7 from 9 am to 4 pm at Great Mountain Forest.

This full-day Woodland Academy course examines the invasive plant species that threaten forest health, biodiversity, and natural regeneration across the state. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how invasive plants spread, the ecological impacts they have on native ecosystems, and the most effective approaches for managing infestations in forests and natural areas.

Through a combination of classroom instruction and field-based learning, attendees will develop skills in identifying Connecticut’s most common invasive forest plants and evaluating management options based on site-specific conditions. Discussions will focus on practical techniques that can help restore and protect native plant communities while supporting long-term forest stewardship goals.

The course will be led by experts in forestry and plant ecology, including Jeff Ward, Chief Scientist Emeritus at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; Betsy Corrigan, Botanist with TRC Companies, Inc.; and Kate Regan-Loomis, Forester at Great Mountain Forest.

The program has been approved for two Connecticut Forest Practitioner continuing education credits. Participants should be comfortable walking off-trail on uneven terrain and spending several hours outdoors during field exercises.

Coffee, tea, water, and snacks will be provided. Participants should bring their own lunch.

The workshop will take place at the historic Yale Camp within Great Mountain Forest, accessed through the forest’s West Gate on Chattleton Road off Canaan Mountain Road in Falls Village, CT. Detailed directions will be provided to registered participants.

Registration is $25 per person.

For registration and additional information, visit https://greatmountainforest.org/invasive-plant-species-in-connecticut/.