Vernal Pool Conservation Workshop

Vernal pools may be ephemeral, but their implications for land conservation are anything but. How do these vital habitats affect the way we protect and steward land?

The Wildlands Trust will hold a Vernal Pool Conservation Workshop on Wednesday May 8^th from 9 am-4 pm at the Stewardship Training Center in Plymouth, MA.

Land protection and stewardship are critical to the conservation of biodiversity and our natural environment, and the work of land trusts is integral to those efforts. In supporting unique animal assemblages and dynamic food webs, vernal pools are one element of the landscape that contribute greatly to the “conservation value” of land.

This workshop will explore the importance of vernal pools and how land trusts may wish to consider them in conservation decision-making. During a classroom session and a field session, we will provide information on vernal pool ecology and how vernal pools can be used as one measure of the conservation value of land. We will discuss potential stewardship practices and considerations, including the certification of vernal pool habitat. Our objective is for workshop participants to gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for the role vernal pools can play in land protection and associated conservation efforts.

We will be walking through dense areas of vegetation. Participants should be willing and able to spend an afternoon hiking through potentially steep and/or wet areas.

This training is intended for staff and volunteers of conservation organizations.

What to wear and bring:

• Sturdy, closed-toed shoes/boots (we may be walking through wet areas)
• Long sleeve shirt
• Long pants
• Rain gear
• Water (also available inside the STC)
• Packed lunch that can be brought into the field if needed

What to expect:

• Classroom session in morning
• Field session in afternoon (We will be walking through dense areas of vegetation. Participants should be willing and able to spend an afternoon hiking through potentially steep and/or wet areas)Cost of this workshop is $10 per participantRegister at Vernal Pool Conservation Workshop Tickets, Wed, May 8, 2024 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite