Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
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Extension Communications |
10/20/03
Contacts:
Jason O'Brien, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, (515)
294-6440, jpobrien@iastate.edu
Darrin Siefken, Bremer County Extension, (319) 882-4275, dsiefken@iastate.edu
NatureMapping Workshop Offered in Bremer 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 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Nov. 1, at, the Bremer County Conservation Board Office, 1104 S. Main Street, Tripoli, Iowa.
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 600 people, representing schools, businesses, agencies and other community groups have been trained. Over 21,000 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 Siefken at (319) 882-4275, dsiefken@iastate.edu or visit the NatureMapping Web site at www.extension.iastate.edu/naturemapping. The cost is $20 per workshop.
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