Tree of Life Nursery was pleased to participate for the thirteenth time in this years' SERCAL conference as an exhibitor and sponsor. SERCAL is the shortened title for the California Society for Ecological Restoration - an organization dedicated to advancing the science, art, and practice of ecological restoration through education and research. The conference consisted of highly technical papers presented in formal sessions, and breathtaking field sessions showcasing ecological restoration in action. We were well represented at the conference with our eight participants, including our own Lea Corkidi, who presented a paper on mycorrhizal inoculum.
Dr. Lea Corkidi is one of our treasures here at Tree of Life Nursery. Her expertise in mycorrhizae, her post-doctoral research at UC Riverside with a PhD from the National University of Mexico, her publications, and her practical work at the nursery speak for themselves. Lea is highly respected among her colleagues in the field of mycorrhizae and plant ecophysiology and we are very fortunate to have her as an integral part of our team. In the paper she presented at SERCAL, Lea discussed an experiment she conducted at our facilities, which focused on a species of Calochortus, (Mariposa Lily); a rare, threatened, or endangered plant according to California Native Plant Society. You can read the abstract for the paper titled: "Native vs. Commercial Mycorrhizal Inoculum to Promote the Establishment of Calochortus weedii var. intermedius"
here.
The conference was held on the beautiful campus of UC Santa Barbara in the University Center. Bordering the landmark restored lagoon, (a living example of the goals discussed in the conference rooms that weekend), the conference boasted in impressive array of presenters as well as fascinating local fieldtrips allowing for all of the participants to experience some hands-on restoration projects bringing the concepts discussed to life. To read brief overviews of four of the Field Sessions we attended, see our
SERCAL 2006 Case Study.
Tree of Life Nursery was delighted to help sponsor this years' SERCAL conference. We wish to thank all of the excellent presenters, knowledgeable field guides and especially the coordinators of the conference. It is inspiring to see the positive impacts of successful restoration projects, despite and through the many failures and setbacks, (both biological and political), that can accompany such large and complex undertakings. Learning through the presenters about the tools that contribute to the success of such projects made this conference a valuable experience for all who attended.
