Nebraskaland

54 Nebraskaland • May 2020 The Nebraska Master Naturalist Program also connects its members to the state's natural resource experts. Andrea Wiggins had studied citizen science professionally, but when she moved to Omaha several years ago, she lacked connections to Nebraska's citizen science community. "This gave me a fast track right into the inside circle of people who are really involved in the state," she said. "It also gives me access to a lot of volunteer opportunities to do citizen science that I don't think I would necessarily fi nd otherwise." Helping with a Wider Mission One of the program's top partners is the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Part of the agency's mission is the conservation of Nebraska's natural resources, and through their volunteering, master naturalists have played an active role in that mission. "Their help is greatly appreciated because it expands our capacity for work," said Melissa Panella, Game and Parks' wildlife diversity program manager. Master naturalists have helped the agency record sightings of rare species, collect data through citizen science and conduct large events. In recent years, master naturalists helped with eff orts by Game and Parks and other partners to conserve the endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle. The volunteers helped with habitat monitoring, feeding lab- reared larvae and releasing the beetles back into the wild. "It was a unique opportunity to literally handle an endangered species," Jones said. Another contribution master naturalists have made to Game and Parks' mission has been through their work with prescribed fi re, Panella said. Prescribed fi re can be used to reduce wildfi re risk, maintain grassland ecosystems, control invasive species and increase or maintain wildlife habitat. Experts say it's one of the most cost-eff ective ways to manage the spread of eastern redcedar, a fast-growing invasive species that replaces natural grasslands with thick tree cover. "We have found ourselves fi ghting to save our grassland ecosystem that supports our wildlife," said Brian Teeter, a coordinating wildlife biologist with Pheasants Forever. To help with this eff ort, master naturalists have attended prescribed fi re workshops and worked with organizations like the Tri County Prescribed Burn Association and Pheasants Forever to conduct prescribed fi res. "Over the last few years they've been able to positively impact over 6,000 acres with prescribed fi re," Panella said. Giving Back These days, Joe Heatherly's Saturday routine looks a little diff erent. He still hikes at Nine-Mile Prairie, but twice a Nebraska master naturalists' accomplishments since 2010: • Contributed a total of 84,131 volunteer service hours statewide, valued at $2,139,451 in salary savings to Nebraska's workforce • Participated in more than 7,000 volunteer opportunities and projects • Positively affected 97,971 acres through resource and habitat management projects • Connected with 794,444 people through education and outreach By the Numbers Bob Wells reaches for a peregrine falcon at Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue, where he provides interpretive education for visitors. Wells contributes about 1,000 volunteer hours each year as a master naturalist. PHOTO BY RENAE BLUM PHOTO BY RENAE BLUM

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