The Western New York Land Conservancy will be wrapping up their 2011 speakers series on Monday, May 2 with a talk led by Paul Fuhrmann.
Fuhrmann is an environmental scientist with Ecology and Environment, Inc. and is also the Acting Coordinator for the Western New York Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM). His professional experience includes design, construction and management of natural and managed landscapes in the northeastern United States. He has over 20 years of experience with environmentally friendly landscaping and his specialization is in native plant communities. Currently, he is working on the Buffalo River Ecological Restoration Master Plan and various stream and riparian habitat restoration plans.
Fuhrmann’s discussion will elaborate on a quote by E.O. Wilson, which states: “Extinction by habitat destruction is like a death in an auto accident: easy to see and assess. Extinction by the invasive or exotic species is like death by disease: gradual, insidious, requiring scientific methods to diagnose.”
Fuhrmann be speaking about the effect that invasive species have had on the Western New York regional environment. He will touch on the origins of these invasive plants, the pathways they take, how to manage them through “habitat modification,” and how to restore native plant communities. Fuhrmann will also present a series of photos of selected species of concern in local watersheds to show the ecological impacts and issues resulting from their presence, such as soil erosion, habitat loss and a decline in biodiversity. After addressing the issues caused by these invasive species, Fuhrmann will explain to the audience how they can protect and preserve the natural habitats in our area.
The speaker’s series is hosted at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, located at 641 Delaware Avenue at North Street. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and is free to attend. To RSVP for this event, call (716) 687-1225 or email info@wnylc.org.