11th Annual Winter Roan Naturalists’ Rally

11th Annual Winter Roan Naturalists’ Rally, sponsored by Friends of Roan Mountain (Saturday, February 17, 2018)
 
Roan Mountain, TN – January 5, 2018 – Join Friends of Roan Mountain on Saturday, February 17th at Roan Mountain State Park for a winter celebration of the Roan Highlands! For 11 years the Winter Naturalists’ Rally has drawn hardy nature enthusiasts from far & wide to Roan Mountain on the Saturday closest to Valentine’s Day. Top naturalists volunteer their time and energy to make the event both enjoyable and educational for people of all ages.
 
SATURDAY MORNING PROGRAM (9:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
 
Roan Mountain State Park, Conference Center
 
http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/roan-mountain
 
 

• Ben Jarrett (Southern Regional Science Coordinator, The American Chestnut Foundation):

Restoration of American Chestnut: A Marriage of Breeding and Biotechnology
 
Ben will speak about the historical significance of American chestnut (its economic, ecological and social importance), the chestnut blight and subsequent downfall of the species, and the ongoing restoration efforts through backcross breeding and genetic engineering.
 
Lisa Huff (Stewardship Ecologist, Tennessee State Natural Areas Program):
The Mystery of the Missing Shortleaf Pine
 
Lisa will present a history of the shortleaf pine-bluestem vegetation community in Tennessee, explain what happened to this important ecosystem and describe some efforts underway to restore the community type.
 
Dwayne Estes (Professor of Biology, Austin Peay State University):
The Southeastern Grasslands Initiative: Charting a New Course for Conservation in the 21st Century
 
The southeastern U.S. grasslands (savannas, prairies, glades, barrens, balds, bogs, fens and meadows) are imminently threatened. Dwayne will speak about the Southeastern Grasslands Initiative (SGI) in Clarksville, TN, which aims to focus grassland conservation efforts across a 21-state region.
 
LUNCHTIME PROGRAM (12:30 PM – 1:30 PM)
 
Sarah Sanford (Master’s of Environmental Management candidate, Duke University)
Grassy Balds Management in the Roan Highlands
 
In the summer of 2017, Sarah interned for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, where she worked on a project cataloguing 30+ years of grassy balds habitat management in the Roan Highlands. Her presentation will detail the history of grassy balds management in the Roan as well as the building of a GIS geodatabase.
 
POST-LUNCH GUIDED HIKES (1:30 PM +)
 
The hikes will leave from the Roan Mountain State Park Conference Center.
 

• Hike option #1. Hampton Creek Cove Natural Area (moderately strenuous, kid-friendly)

• Hike option #2. Ridgeline of Roan Mountain. Dress warmly for this one! (strenuous)

• Hike option #3. Doe River in Roan Mountain State Park. (moderately strenuous; kid-friendly)

• Hike option #4. Winter tree ID, Roan Mountain State Park. (easy)

 
Photos – Downloadable event-related photos can be found at the following link:
 
https://mackubin.smugmug.com/FoRM/Friends-of-Roan-Mountain-2018-Winter-Naturalists-Rally/n-bst8FW/
 
 
FOR REGISTRATION FORM: http://www.friendsofroanmtn.org/2018%20Winter%20Rally%20Brochure.pdf
ONLINE REGISTRATION: https://formsmarts.com/form/1xi5?mode=h5
 
CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION: Richard Broadwell, Winter Rally Program Director, (828) 989-8010; rbroadwell@gmail.com