Using iNaturalist to identify/log invasive plants.
For my internship over the summer, I worked for the Westchester County government at Westchester Parks. I worked primarily at Blue Mountain Reservation, Kitchawan Preserve and the County Trailway. I had a lot of different responsibilities while working including landscaping and maintenance. I was involved in a project in collaboration with PRISM (Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) to detect and manage invasive plant activity. I would use the app iNaturalist to identify patches of particular invasive plants and log them. There were specific species that I was required to look for, but I logged most large patches of invasive plants. The plants of interest would be pinpointed for removal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic everyone involved including myself, wanted contact to be limited. The majority of the material sent for me to learn was online, but it was insightful. The app offered a great way for everyone in the project to share findings and communicate despite the circumstances. Beech leaf disease (BLD) was a threat I would also be on the lookout for. I went out on surveys usually once a week throughout the summer until the last week of August. My favorite activities about the internship were learning about potential solutions to invasive species and having the excuse to go on extra hikes! The material referred to me taught me a lot about invasive plant management, which is also pivotal for my senior project. It felt rewarding contributing to maintaining the integrity of my local environment while doing things that I enjoy.
