Attendees: Nancy Murray, Les Mehrhoff, Juliana Barrett, Ken Metsler, David Skelly, Judy Preston, Patty Pendergast, David Sutherland, David Leff, Jim Murphy, Jim Gibbons
Approval of Minutes. Kent reported that the minutes are on the web site.
Much discussion focused around the direction that the Forum is headed in. Concern that "if we're saying we're too busy, are we saying that this isn't important?" A number of individuals articulated the need for the Forum; hoping to get the Eight Mile River project on the agenda; Audubon expressed need to use the forum to get information to grassroots efforts; TNC is looking for input from the group concerning science and site management issues. When concern was aired about dwindling attendance, response was that we should not expect everyone to come every time. If a specific need or problem is articulated and well presented, members of the academic community will participate. There was some question about how to advertise what the Forum is available for. Response was to have theme of similar issues at a meeting and advertise to a specific audience through the agenda. Importance of follow up in the minutes about how the information coming from the Forum is used; has to show it's useful to continue its purpose.
Jim Gibbons joined Jim Murphy to discuss the 8 Mile River project:
8 mile river project is example of watershed based approach to planning. Important to municipal audience to guide review of plans and for writing regulations. Also important to provide information and recommendations for landowners about forestry, wildlife issues. Discussed Greenways act and town plans of development that require that town show provisions for greenways. This is forum for bringing biodiversity issues to municipal commissions, including issue of fragmentation, rare species. Outlined 3 management objectives in project for forestry: commercial timber, wildlife and water quality. Partners include EPA, Steve Broderick, TNC. Could use expertise from this group concerning minimum range needs for wildlife, recommendations for standards for maintaining , for example, riparian and upland areas. What is minimum land required to preserve biological diversity in the state of Connecticut? What are important indicator species? Also need for fact sheets, slide programs, general outreach information. Challenge to this: information produced needs to have relevance to people who are volunteers, non-experts. Goal is rational land use decisions.
Agreed that next meeting would be formal presentation about Eight Mile River project. Juliana Barrett to be point person.
Suggestions for future sessions: NDDB/Heritage issues
BioDiversity Center at Uconn to host possible conference, with sponsorship by the Forum? Timely for DEP to present updated rare and endangered species list. Would invite keynote speaker and include student research session.
Discussion ensued about target audience. Importance of getting students interested in biodiversity, particularly research to guide management. Importance of getting researchers and students together to focus research and highlight issues needing research (for example, rare and endangered species). Suggestion to focus on students through the symposium and appeal to that group, since other aspects of forum deal with other audiences, i.e. municipalities. Potential to identify "dozens of students", if can match them up with modest funds and research ideas.
Others advocated a municipal officials target audience. David Leff suggested land management as a topic; preserving open space to incorporate goals for biological diversity. Who's doing what. The role of fire and flooding. Information about invasive species, and phragmites. Breakout sessions. Commissions would be interested in attending this, although does not have to cater to just this audience; get a more general audience excited about this topic and provide for the exchange of information. May be overlap with Land Trust Service Bureau. Concern voiced that can turn off municipalities unless you're prepared to give them "tools" to address issues. The BioDiversity Forum can take the science and make it advisable. If Forum sponsors this event, need to be clear about the type of audiences that the Forum is available to.
Frustration was aired about need to focus the Forum and accomplish specific tasks. All agreed that the next meeting will test the format of focusing an issue (or issues) and inviting a specific group of individuals to provide recommendations/answers to specific questions. "If the ship has a direction, people will get on it."
Next Meeting: July 17th, 1997 at Middletown office of TNC
Core Group (Mehrhoff, Holsinger, Preston, Murray) to determine agenda and specialists to invite to address specifics of topics on agenda.
Juliana Barrett to be point person about Eight Mile River project
Next meeting will allow 15-20 minutes for open discussion at the end of the meeting.
Last modified: Tue May 20 11:44:13 1997