|
NEWS RELEASE USDA Forest Service, Chugach National Forest
Chugach National Forest Celebrates American Wetlands Month with WetlandsLIVE and Youth Video Contest
Anchorage, May 9 -- Join the Chugach National Forest at wetlandslive.pwnet.org on Thursday, May 9th from 9:00 to 11:00 am as we live-stream WetlandsLIVE: Discover Wetlands from Cordova Alaska. WetlandsLIVE is a Forest Service/partner distance learning adventure with a year-long emphasis on wetlands through a series of live webcasts. The program is geared to 4th-8th grades and provides teachers and students with an informative and interactive way of learning about wetland habitat and the organisms living there. The webcasts feature student and scientist-led wetlands research project results from around the world, and discuss the functions and ecology of wetlands and their importance to people and wildlife—especially migrating birds and fish.
The Chugach National Forest, home to the Copper River Delta, the largest contiguous wetland on the Pacific Coast of North America, hosts Discover Wetlands, the third webcast in the WetlandsLIVE series. Following the online broadcast, you can join a web chat with wetland experts, four Chugach National Forest scientists who work closely with wetland habitat and the beasts that are dependent on them. Fisheries Biologist Ken Hodges, Wildlife Biologist Erin Cooper, Natural Resources Outreach Coordinator Jillian Jablonski, Plant Ecologist Kate Mohatt, and Natural Resources intern Lesly Caballero will be on hand to answer all your questions.
With the support of partners, including Alaska Geographic and the Chugach Children’s Forest, two WetlandsLIVE video contests were held earlier this year and the winning selections will be featured on the online broadcast on May 9th. Schools from the Alaska communities of Girdwood, Yakutat, and Cordova entered. Entrants competed for prizes in three categories: National Award, Audience Favorite, and Best Message. The winner of each category will receive $1000 in field trip support, video equipment and/or supplies. To see all the videos, visit the Chugach Children’s Forest Facebook page. www.facebook.com/chugachchildrensforest
American Wetlands Month is a celebration of the vital importance of wetlands to the Nation's ecological, economic, and social health. In addition to the WetlandsLIVE broadcast here are some other ways you can celebrate American Wetlands Month:
1. Learn about wetlands. This is a great time to better understand what a wetland is, where wetlands can be found, and the importance of wetlands. Information on wetlands and the important benefits they provide is available on the Environmental Protection Agency wetland worksheets http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/outreach/facts_contents.cfm. 2. Explore a wetland near you. To find and explore a wetland near you, call your local Forest Service office, local parks department, state natural resource agency, or any other public land agency. 3. Take action to protect and restore wetlands. There are many other actions Americans can take to help conserve wetlands. To learn more about what you can do to help protect and restore these valuable natural resources in your state or local area, http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/outreach/index.cfm - you
For more information on the WetlandsLIVE program be sure to visit http://wetlandslive.pwnet.org/
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately. |
Attachment:
WetlandsLIVE.doc
Description: WetlandsLIVE.doc
