On Tuesday, May 9 at 7:00 PM, join the Cook Memorial Library and the Chocorua Lake Conservancy live via Zoom for “Backyard Habitat in a Changing Climate” with Chocorua Lake Conservancy Stewardship Director Debra Marnich. A changing climate asks us to change our practices to help the land and its many inhabitants adapt—and this can start close to home!
Please register in advance at bit.ly/CC-050923.
New England is experiencing longer periods of drought, creating stress for both plants and animals, and also more heavy rain events, a combination that increases risks of flooding and erosion. As average air temperatures rise, species adapted to warmer climates move northward, with both pleasant and concerning effects. Every landscape is vulnerable to climate change—even the landscape in your own backyard.
Join us as we discuss small but mighty habitat improvements you can make on your land to help flora and fauna withstand a changing climate. We will consider promoting plant species that are specifically adapted to challenging dry conditions; soil health; climate adaptation techniques for gardening such as hugelkultur, water gardens, water collection devices, mulching, and the addition of organic materials; and ways to encourage the natural predators that a whole food web and functioning ecosystem require. We can journey with Mother Nature to create and maintain holistic ecosystems and diverse, resilient habitats that can better withstand climate change, invasive pest infestations, drought, and flood. Bring your questions and backyard habitat ideas!
About the Presenter:CLC Stewardship Director Debra Marnich holds a BS in Zoology and an MS in Forestry. Her major interests and professional focus areas include combining wildlife and forestry practices to manage for both sound silvicultural and optimum wildlife habitat, creating early successional and bird nesting habitat, pollinator habitat creation, promoting small diverse farms local food production/agriculture, promoting land conservation and protection, environmental education, and integrating all resources concerns to create a balanced conservation system.
This program is part of Climate and Community, a cooperative programming series presented by Chocorua Lake Conservancy and the Cook Memorial Library.