Date: January 22nd, 2019

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Landrum Library

Speaker: Max Howes, AmeriCorps Project Conserve Habitat Restoration, Volunteer Coordinator, & Trails Associate for Conserving Carolina

Looking in any direction, one may spot plants such as Kudzu, Tree-of-Heaven, or English Ivy, as these are just a handful of the several commonly found non-native and invasive plant species in our region. Join Max Howes, an AmeriCorps Project Conserve member serving with Conserving Carolina, as he discusses these exotic plants that have taken over significant parts of the region. Max will go over some of the common species in the area and teach about how to identify these plants in the wild.  He’ll also discuss the reasons how some of these species were introduced and offer suggestions about ways to remove and eradicate them.

Max graduated from Denison University with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Geosciences. During his year of service in Polk County, Max will be applying his skills toward reducing the impact of non-native and invasive plant species on public protected lands which will lead to the restoration of native habitat. He will also be working with Conserving Carolina staff and volunteers to help restore the trail system at Norman Wilder Forest, where parts of the trail were destroyed by the landslides that occurred in May 2018. Max hopes to develop relationships with many community members and partners and, through education, generate an overall greater appreciation by the public of this unique and special part of North Carolina.  Look for volunteer opportunities to engage with Max and learn more about what you can do to preserve your Polk County!