Advanced Field Botany

Course Overview

A brief review of basic identification topics will be covered, but attendees will be expected to have prior experience with identification of vascular plants. This course will be geared toward environmental consultants, educators, land managers, researchers, foresters, conservationists, and ecologists.

Course completion requirements: Complete 24 hours of total coursework. Attendance to all classes is required.

Featured Topics:

• Botany identification basics
• Dichotomous keys
• Floristic assessments
• Field techniques & data collection

Continuing Education Credits

Advanced Field Botany is approved for credits from the following organizations.

Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System: 24 units

About the Instructor

Jason Hafstad is the Preserve Manager for the NJ Natural Lands Trust, responsible for overseeing 100+ nature preserves across the state totaling close to 30,000 acres. Before this, he was the botanist for the Endangered & Threatened Species Unit of the NJDEP, where he reviewed wetland permit applications for impacts to rare plant species. He has also worked on projects related to habitat restoration, rare species habitat management, ecological community classification, ecological integrity assessments, invasive species management, and forest ecology. Outside of work, he enjoys documenting other underappreciated elements of New Jersey’s biodiversity like mosses, liverworts, lichens, mushrooms, and slime molds.

Prerequisites

This program assumes participants have a basic knowledge of plant species identification and understand general ecology concepts. Please note that field classes will take place fully outdoors and will require travelling several miles on various trail types (paved and unpaved) and uneven terrain for up to 2 hours.

Program Guidelines

Please stay home if you are sick. Pre-registration is required, walk-ins will not be accepted. No refunds and no exchanging or transferring tickets. Please note that each participant must be registered. Unless otherwise noted, ALL programs at Duke Farms are RAIN or SHINE. Registration to a Saturday program comes with an entry pass. You DO NOT need to register separately for a Saturday Entry Pass.

Please contact registrations@dukefarms.org with any questions.