News Release »
| Beverly Eaves Perdue, Governor | Dee Freeman, Secretary |
| N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources |  |
| Release: Immediate | Contact: Charlie Peek | |
| Date: 2009-08-27 | Phone: (919) 715-8709 |
AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS LEND A LAND AT FIVE STATE PARKS
RALEIGH – Five North Carolina state parks are benefiting from the work of a team of AmeriCorps volunteers as part of the national “United We Serve” campaign, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
The “Wolf 3” team of eight young adults is spending a week camping in each of the state parks. Under the guidance of the state parks system’s natural resource management program, they’ll work to eradicate invasive species and shore up hiking trails at Carolina Beach, William B. Umstead, Morrow Mountain and Pilot Mountain state parks and Jordan Lake State Recreation Area.
“Volunteers are always welcome in our state parks and that’s especially true now that the recession and necessary budget controls have stretched our staff in a busy summer season,” said Lewis Ledford, state parks director. “We’re confident that the volunteers will benefit from the experience as well as our state parks and the natural resources they protect.”
The “United We Serve” initiative is a national volunteer effort, announced earlier this summer by President Obama and supported by Gov. Bev. Perdue, which aims to engage more Americans in serving their communities. AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women age 18-24, which works to strengthen communities and develop leaders in partnership with government agencies and nonprofits.
The “Wolf 3” team comes to the state parks after working in Louisiana communities damaged by Hurricane Katrina and rebuilding a women’s shelter in western North Carolina. After their service each will receive an education stipend.
Emily Parisher, a state parks biologist coordinating their work, said invasive plant removal will take much of their time and is important because invasive exotic species are a serious threat to biodiversity. When exotic plants grow unchecked, they can out-compete fragile native species for habitat space and resources. The trail work that the team will perform will help curb erosion and sedimentation during storm events, which in turn, helps protect water quality in the parks’ streams.
The team members can hone some skills that may help them in natural resource careers, such as invasive plant identity and control methods, prescribed fire monitoring protocols and GPS use for natural resource management.
###
# # #