Science Committee

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Statement of Goals - Draft 

The Trail Conference has convened a Science Advisory Committee in recognition of the fact that its mission must include the science-based protection of the ecological integrity of the lands through which the trail system is found. This mission reflects both the potential impacts of trails and hikers on the ecosytem and the potential role of hikers and volunteers in protecting the environment.

The goals of the committee are:

1. Develop methods by which the TC can help assess the impact of hiking trails in areas of concern with the geographic region containing the TC's network of trails.

2. Establish guidelines for trail construction and maintenance within the framework of responsible land stewardship and current scientific knowledge.

3. Educate TC members and volunteers about these issues, and through our publications reach a broader public audience.

4. Establish clear and responsive channels of communication between the TC and land management agencies and organizations regarding emerging environmental concerns, scientific information about the ecological health of the region, shifting regulatory requirements and public access issues.

5. Develop volunteer-centered activities to accomplish the preceding goals, including participation in research, data gathering, and educating trail crews and maintainers.

Minutes

• November 12, 2000

• January 13, 2002

Topics of interest to the committee

• Trail Degradation
• Biodiversity
• Plant Lists
  • Invasive Species
  • Native Plants
• Tree Diseases
• Fauna
• Vernal Pools
• Global Warming
• Hikers for Clean Air
• Threatened & Endangered Species
• Preservation vs Public Access

Related Topics (buzzwords)

Try searching for these terms on the web.

• Scirus - a search engine that only searches the scientific literature

Articles

• Glenn Scherer's Articles on Trail Ecology written for AHS American Hiker

Conferences

• Horticulture Conference Creating Sustainable Landscapes: 
  Plants to Plant, Plants to Avoid - A Symposium for Concerned Horticulturists and Environmentalists October 14 - 15, 2000

• Urban Forestry Protection December 4, 2001

Courses

• Rutgers, Cook College Continuing education courses
• Institute for Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY

• NJIT teaches an Environmental Assessment Certificate program (12 credits = 4 courses)
• Institute for Field Naturalists NJ Audubon
• Organization of Biological Field Stations
• The New York Botanical Garden
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden

New York State

There are several categories of State Parks

• State Park Preserve - protecting the biodiversity of the resource takes precedence over human activity, e.g. Minnewaska.

• State Park, Historic Park, Golf Course, Education Center, Marine, etc. - managed for visitor access while protecting biodiversity

New Jersey

• Checklists of NJ Wildlife