Exploring a Collaborative Approach to Woody Invasives in the Midwest

In this video, Clair Ryan focuses on the work and resources developed through the Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes (WIGL) Collaborative. Launched in 2020, the WIGL website is chock full of information on woody invasive identification, distribution, impacts, regulation and management. She also demonstrates landscape alternatives, their newly revamped mobile app aimed at helping home gardeners and other non-experts avoid the invasive trees and shrubs lurking at the nearest big box store in favor of diverse non-invasive alternatives that provide excellent form and function in the landscape.
Clair Ryan has been the Coordinator of the Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN) since 2016. MIPN works to reduce the impacts of invasive plants across an eight-state region by coordinating across borders, synthesizing, and compiling information, hosting professional conferences and developing educational resources. MIPN is co-located with The Morton Arboretum, 40 miles southwest of Chicago. Prior to working with MIPN, Clair worked on interstate water quality programs in the Northeast. She holds Master of Science and Public Administration degrees from Indiana University focused on environmental management. When not working, Clair enjoys herding cats and toddlers and home/garden improvement projects.