Knotweed rapidly forms monocultures, excludes all native plants in its wake, while canceling the rich interactive diversity normally associated with riparian eco-systems. Learn how a consortium of environmental organizations and land trusts demonstrated effective knotweed eradication methods and restored native plants on the banks of the Wild and Scenic Housatonic in northwest Connecticut.

Tom Zetterstrom’s photographic record reveals a changing landscape impacted by species decline, alien plant invasion and forest collapse. In these talks he will describe projects in Connecticut and Massachusetts that have protected trees in natural and community forests. In 1999 he co-founded Elm Watch. Tom received the 2011 Public Awareness of Trees award from the National Arbor Day Foundation and the 2013 Connecticut Urban Forest Council’s meritorious service award for efforts “to educate and promote positive change regarding trees and plants.” He is recognized for his Portraits of America Trees exhibition and his photographs are in the collections of 43 museums nationally.