COLUMBUS, OH -- Issues concerning the ecology and management of invasive plants in Ohio will be the subject of a day-long conference for land managers and scientists on March 5 in Columbus, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). This first-ever statewide conference, focusing on Ohio's growing number of invasive plant species, is sponsored by ODNR in conjunction with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy and The Ohio State University. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ohio Department of Transportation Auditorium at 1980 W. Broad St., just west of downtown.
The keynote speaker, Bernd Blossey from Cornell University, will discuss the detrimental impacts of invasive plants, as well as their biological control. About 25 percent of Ohio's plants are not native to the state and have been introduced for a variety of reasons including erosion control, horticulture, medicinal use or wildlife habitat. Some of these alien plants are displacing native plants in Ohio's woodlands, wetlands, prairies and other natural areas.
Other conference speakers represent Miami University, University of Dayton, Cleveland State University, The Ohio State University and Ohio University. Additionally, the event will feature a poster display session, featuring technical abstracts related to invasive plants. The conference fee is $20 ($10 for students), which covers break refreshments and printed handouts. The deadline for registration is February 15. For more information about the invasive plant species conference, visit online at oipwg.osu.edu or the ODNR web site at ohiodnr.com .