Dear Colleagues,
I would like to update you on happenings with the KSR Restoration Initiative.
On January 26th, the KSR Restoration Initiative brought together a number of restoration professionals to attend a workshop for practitioners at KBS. The goals of the workshop were to share information on restoration techniques, build a network of restoration professionals, and identify the information needs of professionals and laypersons. We had 14 participants from various state and federal government agencies, private industry, a non-governmental organization, and a university attend the workshop, as well as a number of representatives from the Biological Survey. The morning was spent listening to six presentations of restoration projects from around eastern Kansas. Roundtable discussions were held in the afternoon on topics such as establishment of tallgrass prairie, prairie management, control of Lespedeza cuneata, and increasing diversity in existing grasslands. The workshop was a success and participants felt that the group should be brought together on a regular basis to exchange ideas and information. Thank you to Jennifer Delisle for organizing the workshop.
On February 10th, a research planning meeting was held to discuss strategies for promoting research within the context of restoration activities at KSR. As part of the Restoration Initiative, we hope to conduct restoration activities that provide a platform for future research and that do not restrict future research design and analysis. Thank you to all who participated in this meeting. One of the outcomes of this meeting was an experimental planting plan devised for one of the units undergoing restoration.
Upcoming Events
On May 12th, there will be a symposium on restoration and ecology, held from
1-4 p.m. in
Haworth Hall. Jim Bever from Indiana University will deliver a keynote presentation
on the role of soil microbes in plant communities and restoration. There will
be 2-3 short presentations about efforts here at KU involving restoration, followed
by a general discussion of restoration and individual research interests. Details
regarding this event will be distributed at a later date.
On May 18th, the New Generations group will tour KSR, including the facilities, on-going research activities, and restoration projects. A number of graduate students will be presenting their research to this group.
Thank you for your continued interest. If you have any questions or would like
more information, please feel free to contact me.
Regards,
Sharon