This season, the ISF Crew managed over 45,000 invasive plant individuals and surveyed nearly 550 acres of land. The Crew managed 32 different invasive species including treating the largest giant hogweed population in the region, which has decreased tenfold over the past two years! The Crew also worked to contain a large sticky sage population before it spreads down the Appalachian Trail, and remove kudzu, the notorious vine that ate the south, before it can establish in New York.

The Crew was led by Zachary Keenan and Layla El-Rifai, with crew members Emily Anderson, Nicholas Eubank, Joseph Perrelli, Niko Rivera, and Avani Tripathi.

The Hudson Valley Trail Stewards were stationed at Breakneck Ridge, Anthony's Nose, and the Croton Gorge Unique Area. Across these three locations, the stewards counted 26,201 visitors and were able to educate or aid 16,420 (or 63%) of those visitors. They were also able to assist 240 lost hikers and provided first aid to 18 hikers. Additionally, the stewards engaged in invasive species management at Croton Gorge, including removing over 5,000 invasive plants and planting 658 native plants.

The crew was led by Ryan McClean with crew members Phoenix Pliskin, Declan Urffer, Christina Ufland, Sarah Spencer-Piszczek, Benjamin Straebler, Eleanor Dunlevy, Sydney Veitinger, and Kathrine Ledermann.

The Catskill Summit Stewards were stationed at Slide, Cornell, and Wittenberg; Giant Ledge and Panther; North Point; and the Blackhead Range on weekends and holidays, Memorial Day Weekend through October 22nd. Over 22 weekends, they collected various data points to determine how hikers and backpackers utilize these wilderness areas. The stewards tallied over 11,000 hikers in their region and educated/assisted nearly 3,500 of them. The stewards also helped 44 lost hikers and 4 injured individuals. They also removed 50 illegal fire rings and renaturalized these areas in an effort to prevent illegal camping activities.

The crew was led by Vanessa Mangual with crew members James Jaster, Colleen Stevens, Matthew Moran, Madison White, and Jay Porcelli.

Native Tree Planting at Marshlands Conservancy
Saturday, December 2nd
10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Invasive Plant Management at Bronx River Reservation
Friday, December 8th
10:00 am - 12:00 pm 

Invasive Plant Management at VE Macy Park
Saturday, December 9th
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Pollinate Now: A Regional Strategy for Habitat Restoration
Tuesday, December 5th
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Come learn about the largest pollinator corridor plan
in the United States! Pollinators are integral to the web of life, directly contributing to one in three bites of our food. Yet, over half of New York‘s native pollinators are at-risk. This roadmap is based in science and creates beautiful habitats for a variety of landscapes to
promote biodiversity and resilience.

Crafted Harmony: Invasive Species Harvest & Wind Chime Workshop
Thursday, December 7th
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Join the Environmental Cooperative & the Preserve at Vassar for a guided walk, harvesting of invasive species, and a craft using Japanese Knotweed!