Invasive Species in the Dunes

Identifying, eliminating and monitoring 

Preserve the Dunes, The Nature Conservancy and Sarett Nature Center are hosting a talk on fighting invasives in the sand dunes along Lake Michigan.

Sunday, July 10 at 2 p.m.

Sarett Nature Center

2300 North Benton Center Road

Benton Harbor, MI 49022-9704

(269) 927-4832

This event is free and open to all!!!

Shaun Howard, Coastal Invasives Coordinator, with The Nature Conservancy will be speaking on Lake Michigan Dune Restoration  Fighting the Invasive Threat. Sand dunes, coastal wetlands, and coastal forest communities provide habitat to threatened and endangered species and therefore represent some of the most unique and biodiverse ecosystems in Michigan. 

Unfortunately, invasive plant infestations in these areas is rising and having a significant detrimental impact on the native populations. To respond to this threat, The Nature Conservancy and partners have begun a project to survey, treat, and monitor populations of seven key invasive plant species along all 505 miles of the eastern Lake Michigan shoreline. The long-term goal of this project is establishing effective, efficient, and collaborative management of terrestrial invasives, eradicating them when possible and controlling them elsewhere.

Speaker Bio: Shaun is a Michigan native. He earned his B.S. in Zoology through the Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University. In the summer of 2010 he joined The Nature Conservancy to lead their Dune Restoration Crews control efforts against the invasive plant babys-breath along the shores of Northwest Lower Michigan. His current role is that of Coastal Invasives Coordinator, aligning the invasive plant removal efforts of TNC and other Michigan Dune Alliance partners all along the Eastern Lake Michigan shoreline.