The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place March 8 at noon CST will feature Adam Janke, extension wildlife specialist and associate professor, Iowa State University (ISU) and Kay Stefanik, assistant director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center housed at Iowa State University. Janke is a trained wildlife biologist who is active in regional and national efforts for wildlife conservation and education. Stefanik’s expertise and research is in water quality, nutrient cycling and aquatic ecosystems.
In the webinar, “Iowa’s Wetlands from the Sky: Educational videos on wetland wildlife and water quality with drones,” Janke and Stefanik will team up to showcase a program designed to fill the knowledge gap in wetland ecology and diversity by leading an educational video campaign to explore wetland ecology and function through the lens of water quality and wildlife habitat using drones and aerial photography throughout Iowa. They will discuss the win-win-win interrelations between wildlife habitat, water quality and people, and will challenge Iowans to build literacy and provide resources for further exploration of the ecology nature and diversity of wetland ecosystems.
“In agricultural settings, wetlands have historically been regarded as obstacles rather than assets,” said Stefanik. “However, they are actually an integral part of Iowa’s landscape that contribute to reduction of nutrient loss from farm fields, provide habitat for local and migrating wildlife, store floodwater, and provide recreational opportunities for people. We are hopeful that this project will spark a greater appreciation of wetlands, along with a desire to improve wetland restoration and creation efforts across the state.”
Source:iastate.edu
Categories: Iowa, Education