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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Looking For Volunteers To ID Ash Trees

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Published Date

August 22, 2010

Volunteers work with park specialists to help to map ash tree locations for future monitoring purposes. NPS photo.

Looking for an excuse to take a hike? Then head to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and help rangers identify the locations of ash trees in the park.

During an upcoming stretch of Saturdays park biologists will be working to collect data and map locations of ash trees in parts of the park. And they'd be happy to have your help.

The dates to choose from are: Saturday August 28 (at Smokemont Campground in N.C.), Saturday September 11 (at Oconaluftee in N.C.), Saturday September 25 (at Deep Creek in N.C.), or Saturday, October 2 (at a location to be determined in Tennessee). On each of these dates the scheduled field activity will run from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Volunteers will learn how to identify ash and other common trees found in the Smoky Mountains, set up a scientific plot, and use a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit. The ash trees are at risk from the invasive, non-native Emerald Ash Borer, which has now been found nearby in Knox County, Tenn. This beetle can travel undetected in firewood and nursery stock from quarantined areas into new locations in the park.

The data that is collected will help park staff map the locations of ash trees park-wide to monitor the health of the forest and detect future infestations.

If you volunteer, you should be prepared to hike up to 5 miles on park trails and in rough terrain off the main paths. It is recommended that participants wear long pants and comfortable closed-toe shoes or boots for hiking, and bring snacks, water, sunscreen, and rain gear.

Reservations are necessary and participation for each day is limited to 16 people (children 12 and under must bring an adult). Contact Ranger Susan Simpson at 865/436-1200, ext. 762 to R.S.V.P. for any (or all) of these days and for exact meeting locations.

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