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Spring, 2024 recordings below. See you in the fall!
The Elements of Natural Resource Management
Brave the elements for our continuing webinar series! Natural resource management combines several elements to successfully protect our environment. We continue our collaboration with the Marine Extension Program Seminar Series (MEPSS), to look at the role the natural elements (air, earth, fire, water, spirit, and wildlife) play in natural resource management and what you can do to help.
Missed a session? Click on the title to view the recording.
April 15 -Fire’s Role in Ecosystem Health with Jeremy Webber, NJ Forest Fire Service. For the fire element, we explored how prescribed fire not only aids in protecting life and property from the catastrophic wildfire, but also how it supports ecosystem health. Prescribed fire, used appropriately, can benefit habitats for both flora and fauna, while also supporting hazardous fuel and invasive plant species mitigation efforts. Lastly, we discussed how a wildfire promotes habitat diversity and natural environmental processes.
April 24 – Hooked on Environmental DNA: Reeling in Community Scientists for Fisheries Monitoring of Offshore Wind Development with Dr. Jason Adolf & Erin Conlon, Monmouth University. For the water element, we will dive into the ocean realm as offshore wind development continues off the New Jersey coast, many are concerned about potential impacts on the marine ecosystem. Environmental DNA (eDNA) provides a non-extractive method of monitoring fish community composition that can be done by community scientists and professionals alike. We will describe a fisheries monitoring program run by Monmouth University and funded by the NJ Research and Monitoring Initiative (RMI) that includes a role for community scientists. Community science is important as it fosters open communication and increased understanding for both stakeholders and researchers. Other partners in this project include Emma Najarian, Keith J. Dunton, Sam Chew Chin and Shannon O’Leary.
April 29– The Influence of Personal Experiences on Perceptions of Black Bears in New Jersey with Dr. Joseph Paulin, Rutgers University. For the wildlife element we will explore how over the past 30 years, people have more regularly interacted with black bears in New Jersey. These experiences can be both positive and undesirable. Although it can be exciting to see a bear from afar while hiking, bears have also been known to frequent residential neighborhoods, rummage through garbage, and cause agricultural damage that negatively impacts farmers’ livelihoods. In this talk, we will discuss research that explores how direct personal experiences with bears can influence public tolerance and support for management.
May 20- Down to Earth Soil Management with Bill Errickson, Rutgers University. For the earth element, we will look at soil health and how it is defined as the continued capacity to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. Maintaining soil health is an essential component of a productive and thriving garden that is more resistant to disease and abiotic stress. This presentation will highlight the important ecological roles of soil organisms as they relate to the physical and chemical properties of soil in home-scale and community gardens. Topics will include proper methods of soil testing, optimizing soil fertility, and practices to support soil organism biodiversity through increasing soil organic matter.
May 23 – Offshore Wind for New Jersey: the Opportunities and Challenges with Kris Ohleth, Special Initiative on Offshore Wind. For the air element, we will look off New Jersey’s coast to learn more about offshore wind energy. The offshore wind industry started approximately 30 years ago in Europe and is rapidly developing in the United States, including off New Jersey. Join us to learn more about the opportunities and challenges associated with developing offshore wind off New Jersey’s coast. Our featured speaker, Kris Ohleth, has more than 20 years’ experience working in the offshore wind sector and brings a wealth of knowledge on this emerging industry.
June 3- Urban Humpback Whales: Coexisting With Our Charismatic Neighbors with Danielle Brown, Rutgers University. For our spirit element, we will discuss how the Humpback whales have become an exciting part of the coastal ecosystem in NJ and NY. Danielle Brown, Rutgers University, Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, and Director of Marine Mammal Research for Gotham Whale, will discuss what we have learned about humpback whale ecology over the last decade, and how we can best coexist with whales in our region.
Our Earth Day, Every Day webinar series focuses on steps everyone can take to protect the environment. We can all do our part to take actions that make our homes more sustainable, from environmentally-friendly lawn care, to recycling, to conducting a home energy audit. These actions, more than ever, start at home.
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Webinar Archive
Click on the category titles below to view the YouTube archives for all of our webinars.
Climate Change
Planning For The Unplanned: Preparing For Marine Debris Response In New Jersey
As we learned from Superstorm Sandy, responding to disaster debris in waterways can be complicated and time consuming, especially ...when there are multiple agencies with overlapping jurisdictions and limited resources. The NOAA Marine Debris Program has been leading a highly collaborative process to improve national preparedness for response to marine debris after disasters. Goals of this initiative are to work with coastal states and U.S. territories to clarify key organization roles and shed light on common challenges. Join Jessica Conway, Response Specialist, NOAA Marine Debris Program, to learn how the Marine Debris Program collaborated with government agencies to produce an emergency response guide and associated tools for state organizations.[+] Show More
Energy
What's An Energy Audit And Do you Need One? | View the recording
Food
Reducing Food Waste
Insect & Pest Management
Ticks and Lyme Disease
Native Plants
Trees, Wonderful Trees
Natural Resource Management
Fire’s Role in Ecosystem Health
This session explored how prescribed fire not only aids in protecting life and property from the ...catastrophic wildfire, but also how it supports ecosystem health. Prescribed fire used appropriately can benefit habitats for both flora and fauna, while also supporting hazardous fuel and invasive plant species mitigation efforts. Lastly, we explored the unfamiliar benefits of how a wildfire essentially promotes habitat diversity and natural environmental processes.[+] Show More
Nature Therapy
Infusing EcoTherapy Into Your Life
Plastics
Reducing Plastic Waste
Soil
Get to the Root of Soil Compaction
Volunteering
YOU Can Be a Citizen Scientist!
Water
Exploring Your Watershed
Wildlife
Creating Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard
Yard Care
Environmentally Friendly Lawn Care
