“Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to our park’s ecosystem health. They outcompete native plants, decrease biodiversity, increase wildfire occurrences, and magnitude. Join the new Desert Defenders program to help us find and map these plants! Volunteers will learn about invasive species issues, why they are a problem, and how to identify several invasive plant species. We will also locate and map them. Registration Required, necessary to receive the smartphone app instructions prior to the training. Please bring your smartphone, water, a snack, and dress in long sleeves, pants, and closed-toed shoes. We will be hiking and mapping invasive species using a GIS-based smartphone app. Pre-work required: Details shall be emailed 2 days prior to events.
Desert Defenders Map training
Date January 14
Time – Beginning & Ending 8 am-11:30 am
Location – White Tank Mountain Regional Park - Nature Center parking lot.
How many people do you want at your event? Cap 25
What should the volunteers bring? – Gloves, water, snacks, sunscreen, Smartphone, hat trash bags, safety glasses, etc.
What equipment will be provided? Brochures, GIS instructions Knowledge
Name of person-in-charge of clean-up event? Juanita Armstrong
Contact information of person-in-charge – juanita.armstrong@maricopa.gov
Event Description – Brief talk about how to identify invasive species, how to use the app, and hike and map invasive species. It May require hiking in the mountains.
COVID-19 precautions? Yes
Programs with less than 5 registered volunteers will be canceled at least one day prior to event-Registered Volunteers will receive an email stating event cancelled.
To register, please click on the link https://signup.com/go/qXFViHo.