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In This Issue:
- Forest Regeneration's Early Progress
- A Forest Monitoring Cycle Like No Other
- Northern Long-eared Bat Notes
- Marsh Elevation
- Food for Thought: Two-Eyed Seeing
- Celebrate Amphibian Week May 7-13
- Nature News, ICYMI
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 Tree seedlings and small saplings are still in short supply in National Capital Region national parks. The latest look at forest regeneration capacity based on monitoring data from 2022 is now available. Read more.
Photo: Seedling recovery, seen here at Catoctin, is an early step toward rebuilding forest regeneration capacity. Credit: NPS
 What if your office was the woods? Your break room a mossy log? This is the reality for members of the Inventory & Monitoring forest vegetation crew. The team has collected data on forest health in NCR parks every year since 2006 and recently completed the fourth cycle of forest vegetation monitoring (2018-2022). Learn what staff biologists and technicians have to say about their experiences in the field these past five years. Read more.
Photo: The 2022 forest crew leaps in triumph at a plot in Prince William Forest Park. Left to right: Camilla Fishtahler, Andrejs Brolis, Lindsay Ashley, Galen Oettel, and Audrey Kauppila. Credit NPS/Claire Hassler.
The northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) is an endangered species as of March 31, 2023. Interim guidance on Section 7 consultation for this species will apply until April 1, 2024.
The Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) will hold several training sessions in April demonstrating the Northern long-eared bat determination key and the Northeast Endangered Species Determination Key. Anyone may join these Training sessions:
Drop-in question sessions:
Visit the Fish & Wildlife Service pages on northern long-eared bats and information for planning & consulting to learn more or contact regional NPS Threatened & Endangered Species Coordinator Diane Pavek for further information.
 Since 2002, the NPS Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) team has been tracking the elevation of freshwater tidal wetlands in the National Capital Region including those at Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve in George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) and Kenilworth Marsh and Kingman Lake in National Capital Parks-East (NACE).
New resource briefs on marsh elevation at Dyke Marsh and Kingman Lake/Kenilworth Marsh summarize a new 2023 report by Tredennick et al. analyzing marsh elevation monitoring data from 2002 to 2019.
Photo: NPS staff measuring marsh elevation using a surface elevation table (SET) device. Credit: NPS
Etuaptmumk is the Mi'kmaw word for Two-Eyed Seeing. It refers to learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of Western knowledges and ways of knowing ... and learning to use both these eyes together, for the benefit of all.
The concept of two-eyed seeing has been adopted throughout Canada and the U.S., and is discussed in depth in the recent journal article:
Smith, C., Diver, S., & Reed, R. (2023). Advancing Indigenous futures with two-eyed seeing: Strategies for restoration and repair through collaborative research. Environment and Planning F, 0(0).
 Revisit this article series for the latest updates on amphibian populations for each NCR park. And find out what species will emerge next this spring.
Amphibian Week guidance and themes for public outreach is available (NPS internal site).
Photo: Wood frog. Credit: USGS/L. Pekurny
In Case You Missed It (ICYMI), here's a roundup of nature news and resources from the last quarter that may be of interest to those working with natural resources in the National Capital Region. This includes NPS press releases, new NPS web and social media content, and articles from InsideNPS (available to NPS only).
Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists (CAFMS) newsletter. (CAFMS: 3/28/2023)
APRIL
5. Grassland birds benefit from agricultural management within national battlefield parks. 9:00 – 10:00 am. NCR Science Forum: Presenter Megan Massa. Contact Diane Pavek at NPS email for meeting link.
10. Northern long-eared bat and Northeast Endangered Species Determination Key Training. Fish and Wildlife Service-sponsored training session of particular use for those working with consultants. 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Click here to join the meeting
12. Work Zone Safety for Short Duration Work Activities. Learn how NPS work zone safety requirements apply to all disciplines including natural or cultural resource management. 1:00 - 3:00 pm ET. Registration Link
22. Earth Day.
22-30. National Park Week. Learn how NPS is celebrating!
4. Joint Meeting of the Natural Resource Advisory Team (NAT) and Cultural Resource Advisory Team (CAT). 10:00 am - 12:30 pm.
7-13. Amphibian Week.
13. World Migratory Bird Day. World Migratory Bird Day
17. Endangered Species Day
13. Natural Resource Advisory Team (NAT) Meeting. 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. Contact Brittany Grouge at NPS email for meeting link.
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