FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Volunteer opportunities, special programming, and support from the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps will provide an education and community engagement on local invasive species and native plants
Buffalo, N.Y. – The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy (BOPC) is dedicating the month of June to the fight against invasive plant species. While some may look unassuming amongst our park foliage, the presence of invasive species’ chokes out our native plants and blight our beautiful historical landscapes. Invasive species create monocultures which are detrimental to the well being of native flora and fauna. They often produce leaves sooner which shade out native plants, have more extensive root systems which tap into water sources, and they release chemicals into the soil which can stop other plants from growing.
The goal is to educate the community on invasive species and empower the public with the knowledge to recognize them and the know-how to remove them. These interlopers aren’t just making themselves at home in our parks, but we can also see their impact in our own private yards too.
BOPC is exceptionally pleased to be welcoming eight members of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to assist with the Conservancy’s Invasive Species work this month. The team of 19 to 24 year olds will be assisting with the removal of invasive plants, restoration of native plants, community engagement and education, and leading volunteer groups.
“Invasive Species threaten the ecological integrity of our parks, they detract from their beauty, safety, and the Olmstedian values. Removing them and reestablishing our native plant life will be great in the immediate and for the longevity of the parks” said Kristie Munson, Volunteer Coordinator and driving force behind Invasive Species Month. “It is important we involve the community and empower them with the right knowledge and tools to continue their work against invasive species. Community ownership in the project will support the on-going effort to address these issues and challenges in perpetuity”.
The Conservancy has a series of programming throughout the month including Buckthorn Harvesting and Ink Making, Invasive Species Walks, and Native Species Scavenger Hunt.
Invasive Species Month activities calendar and sign-up link can be found here: Volunteer Opportunities.
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About the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy
The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is the first nonprofit organization in the nation, through a unique public-private partnership, to manage, operate and maintain an entire urban park system consisting of more than 850 acres of beautifully designed historic parks, parkways and circles. The Conservancy is an independent not-for-profit, community organization whose mission is to steward Buffalo’s historic Olmsted park system to welcome and benefit all. To accomplish this, the Conservancy collaborates with community and strategic partners, advocates for quality parks for all, and enhances the park system through beautification, maintenance, and capital projects. More than 2.5 million visits occur in Buffalo’s Olmsted Park system annually for recreation, relaxation, and rejuvenation.
The Buffalo Olmsted Park System includes:
Six parks: Cazenovia, Delaware, Front, Martin Luther King, Jr., Riverside, and South
Seven parkways: Bidwell, Chapin, Lincoln, McKinley, Porter, Red Jacket, and Richmond
Eight landscaped traffic circles: Agassiz, Colonial, Ferry, Gates, McClellan, McKinley, Soldiers, and Symphony
Smaller spaces: Days, Heacock and Prospect
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