Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
5/27/03
Contacts:
Jason O'Brien, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management,
(515) 294-6440, jpobrien@iastate.edu
Michele Olson, Jones County Conservation Board, (563) 487-3541, jccb@netins.net
Heather Niec, Cedar County Conservation Board (563) 886-6930, cedarccb@netins.net
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)
294-7033, jmcguire@iastate.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NatureMapping Workshop Offered in Jones County
AMES, Iowa -- To help the state’s wildlife populations continue to thrive, Iowa State University Wildlife Extension has established the NatureMapping Program. Started in 1999, the program teaches citizens how to collect information on common wildlife species.
“
There are not enough professionals, time or funding to conduct an inventory
of all the nation’s flora and fauna,” says Jim Pease, Extension
Wildlife Specialist and Director, Iowa NatureMapping. “One way
to achieve the needed inventory is to involve an interested public in
helping us.” Wildlife professionals use the information to establish
management plans for the state’s wildlife.
Several NatureMapping workshops are being held throughout Iowa this
year. The next one will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June
21, at Central
Park in Jones County.
The program provides hands-on environmental education. “Involving the public in ‘finding the pieces of the puzzle’ is what NatureMapping is all about,” says Jason O'Brien, coordinator, Iowa NatureMapping. “Trained NatureMapping volunteers are vital to wildlife management efforts in Iowa. Currently, we are concentrating on amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds of Iowa.” He added that the goal is “to keep common wildlife common.”
“
Citizen involvement to date shows that Iowans are dedicated to protecting
and enhancing our state’s wildlife,” O’Brien says.
Since its inception, more than 500 people, representing schools, businesses,
agencies and other community groups have been trained. More than14,000
species reports have been entered into the Iowa NatureMapping database. “Volunteers
can provide much needed data by recording wildlife observations around
their home and feeders, when hiking or doing other wildlife-related
activities. School participation can vary depending on the size and
scope of the
projects chosen,” Pease adds. “The training can fulfill
a valuable service to their community, while engaging students in a
related
project of data collection and analysis.”
For registration information, contact O’Brien at (515) 294-6440,
at jpobrien@iastate.edu or
visit the NatureMapping Web site at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/naturemapping.
The workshop cost is $18.
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Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.