Grasslands Symposium

Celebrating Grasslands: Protecting and Growing This Critical Habitat Thursday, October 26, 2023 9:00 am – 12:30 pm – Symposium 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Grassland and Meadow Project Visits The Barn at Old Westbury Gardens 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury, NY 11568 Join us for a symposium dedicated to highlighting the significant work occurring on Long Island to protect and establish grasslands and ways we can grow more biodiverse landscapes.  Panelists will introduce participants to their projects, objectives, steps in implementing them, management and lessons learned.  Audience members will learn about habitat values of grasslands and meadows and how they can create habitat at home and where they work. Participants can visit featured grasslands after the morning symposium. LA Credits: This program provides 3 HSW credit hours under the subjects of vegetative management, landscape preservation, landscape restoration and adaptive reuse for the morning session and 2 hours toward educational activity credits for the afternoon tours for NYS registered landscape architects by approved provider CCE-Suffolk. Free, but advanced registration is required! For more information, contact the Land Alliance at 516-922-1028 or [email protected]. Event Schedule: 9:00 am – Coffee and Conversation 9:15 am – Keynote Address Dwayne Estes, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Southeast Grasslands Initiative, Professor of Biology and Director of the Austin Peay State University Herbarium 10:00 am – The Long Island Connection Rob Longiaru, Habitat Director, Friends of Hempstead Plains 10:15 am – Panel #1 Discussion – Local Stories: Large Initiatives and Public/Private Partnerships Moderator: Polly Weigand, Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning & Policy Commission Panelists: Sue Feustel, Caumsett Foundation Rob Langiaru, Friends of Hempstead Plains Stephane Perreault, Greentree Foundation Rusty Schmidt, Nelson Pope Voorhis 11:15 am – Panel #2 Discussion – Smaller Scale and Building Habitat at Home Moderator: John Turner, Seatuck Environmental Association Panelists: Rick Cech, New York City Butterfly Club Jane Jackson, North Shore Land Alliance Anthony Marinello, Dropseed Native Landscapes Frank Piccinnini, Spadefoot Design and Construction 12:15 pm – Lunch (Pre-ordered box lunch available for $25.  Must select during registration.) 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Explore one, or more, of these local grassland and meadow projects: Caumsett State Park, Lloyd Neck Greentree Foundation, Manhasset * Hempstead Plains, Garden City Humes Preserve, Mill Neck Shore Road Sanctuary, Cold Spring Harbor Schedule and directions to follow with registration. * Advance registration required Partnering Organizations (list in formation): Caumsett Foundation Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning & Policy Commission Cornell Cooperative Extension – Suffolk County Dropseed Native Landscapes Friends of Hempstead Plains Greentree Foundation Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District Nelson Pope Voorhis New York City Butterfly Club New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation North Country Garden Club North Shore Land Alliance Old Westbury Gardens Seatuck Environmental Association Sisters of St. Joseph Spadefoot Design and Construction William Cullen Bryant Preserve (Nassau County Museum of Art)