CNPS Vegetation Program Volunteers

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VOLUNTEERS/INTERNS NEEDED! The CNPS Vegetation Program has a backlog of various tasks that are vital to several of our program initiatives. These tasks would be perfect for a volunteer or intern to assist us with this summer/fall; thus, we are reaching out to our supporters whom we know have a wealth of talents to offer! Most of these opportunities would be located at our downtown Sacramento office and include the following:

Manual of California Vegetation Project – We are currently in the process of adapting the Manual of California Vegetation from a static book and electronic database to an interactive and searchable on-line format, similar to our Online Rare Plant Inventory. Areas where we could use volunteer assistance include ecological research, database entry of vegetation information, GIS range map processing, and archiving of digital photographs.

Mapping Cypress Vegetation Communities – We are seeking assistance on the mapping of cypress vegetation throughout the state. The mapping includes using available computer equipment and ArcGIS software. Some experience with ArcMap 9 is necessary, though we are open to individuals with a range of skills. This is a great opportunity to develop your skill set while assisting with the creation of a statewide map of cypress, many of which are extremely rare.

Rare Plant Community Survey Data – We are seeking assistance on a variety of data-entry related tasks. These include entering vegetation survey data from around the state, including maritime chaparral. We are looking for a detail-oriented person for these tasks, and this is a great way for someone to gain experience and knowledge of California’s diverse flora.

Watersheds/Plants Project – We have some field trip opportunities for a volunteer to join us at various National Forest locations, including San Bernardino National Forest in late June and July, Plumas National Forest in July and August, and potentially other Forests/Dates to be determined. We will be documenting the ecological conditions of sites where many rare and invasive plant species occur, including meadow and riparian habitats. A volunteer could help in collecting important ecological data to guide future restoration projects, as long as you could commit 2 or more days of field time during the week or weekend to learn and apply our methods.

If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, please contact Deborah Stout at dstout@cnps.org.