The effects of urbanization have been demonstrated to be the leading cause of the loss of biodiversity on a global scale. Solutions to preventing the extinction of locally rare species and degradation of imperative ecosystems can effectively be addressed by local park and recreation agencies through strategic natural areas preservation, active stewardship, and community engagement throughout the process. In addition to helping connect people to nature, local parks are essential in creating environmental stewards who will advocate for and protect our most precious public resources -- our land, water, trees, open spaces and wildlife. Join us to learn more about how community-based monitoring and restoration initiatives are making an impact in southeastern Wisconsin.
So, bring your family, friends, neighbors, teachers, postal worker, whoever!! It's 2020 and time for some SCIENCE!! Hope to see you there!!!
Julia has over ten years of experience working in natural-resource management. She has worked throughout the Midwest on various projects including multi-taxa biodiversity assessments, habitat restoration, environmental education and community engagement, and environmental planning. Before coming to Waukesha County Parks in April of 2018, she worked for the Urban Ecology Center and Milwaukee County Parks. Julia also serves on several conservation-related boards and committees including the Southeastern Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium, the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory's Science Committee, and Waukesha County Land Conservancy's land management committee. In 2016 the community-based wetland-monitoring program that she developed for Milwaukee County was awarded the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Citizen-Based Monitoring Program of the Year award. Julia graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UW-M) in 2012 with a BS in biological sciences and a BS in conservation and environmental sciences, and in 2018, she was named "Graduate of the Last Decade" by UW-M's alumni association. In 2017 she created a project called "Walk to Sustain Our Great Lakes" walking over 340 miles from Milwaukee to Lake Superior raising $10,000 for Great Lakes conservation initiatives.
