The National Forest Foundation is partnering with the Idaho Panhandle National Forest and Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness this summer to coordinate the first on-the-ground work at the Lightning Creek Treasured Landscapes restoration site. In the last two weeks, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness worked with the forest to lead multi-day volunteer trainings on weed and native plant identification. Trained volunteers are now ready to adopt trails on which they’ll monitor, document and report back on locations of weeds for later treatment. Another team of volunteers will spend several days in the field later this summer to survey whitebark pine and other native plant populations.

Check out these great photos of the weed and botanical survey trainings. Volunteers include members of the Pend Oreille Chapter Idaho Master Naturalists as well asKinnikinnick Native Plant Society. And many thanks to The Lightfoot Foundation for supporting this important work!