Let’s Talk Lake Huron! Invasive Species Prevention in Lake Huron
2025-10-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
Are you ready to learn about the threats invasive species pose to Lake Huron and what is being done to protect the lake? Join us on October 21, 2025 at 11 am CT (12 pm ET) for a one-hour public webinar, Invasive Species Prevention in Lake Huron, as part of our Let’s Talk Lake Huron! webinar series.

Workshop: Protect the Greenbelt from Spotted Lanternfly
2025-10-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (Carolinian Hall) 3350 Merrittville Hwy #9, Thorold, Ontario L2V 4Y6
Spotted lanternfly poses a significant threat to the ecology and agricultural production of Ontario’s Greenbelt. Participants will learn about this insect’s impacts, how it spreads, and what they can do to help protect the Greenbelt from this invasive species. Support for this workshop is provided by the Greenbelt Foundation.
Open to vineyard workers, arborists, horticulturalists, government and conservation authority staff, outdoor hobbyists, and members of the public.
Light morning refreshments will be served.
Eligibility for ISA and Certified Crop Advisor CEUs pending.

Ontario Forest Health Review
2025-10-23 | Barrie, Ontario
The Forest Health Review is an annual event that provides an update on the current state of Ontario’s forests with experts presenting the latest information on forest health conditions, forest invasive pests, current and upcoming forest pest management programs, and the current year’s research results. The event brings together forest resource managers, foresters, ecologists, conservation authorities, pest management companies, academics, municipalities, and others interested in forest resource management.

This event is in partnership with Forests Canada, Natural Resources Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Invasive Species Centre.

The 15th Annual Sources of Knowledge Forum
2025-10-24 - 2025-10-26 | Tobermory Ontario
To explore these complexities, we are bringing together experts from multiple fields to discuss fire’s impact on nature and human life. Speakers will include: First Nations’ leaders, an Anthropologist / Archaeologist, wildfire experts from National and Provincial forestry centres (Sault Ste. Marie & Peterborough), Bruce Peninsula Firefighters, Parks Canada Forest Ecology specialists, Municipal leaders & emergency planners, and Forest Regeneration specialists from British Columbia and Quebec. More details and registration information coming soon!

2025 Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting
2025-10-28 - 2025-10-30 | The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center
Join in this fall for the 2025 Great Lakes Commission 70th Anniversary Annual Meeting, taking place October 28-30 in Duluth, Minnesota at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center! Additional details will be posted here later this year.
The meetings offer an opportunity for Great Lakes stakeholders to convene with colleagues and share perspectives on important Great Lakes issues. Join us as we continue to address issues of common concern, develop shared solutions and collectively advance an agenda to protect and enhance the region’s economic prosperity and environmental health. Click here to view information about past GLC meetings.

Invasive Carp and Tench Monitoring in the Bay of Quinte
2025-10-30 11:00 - 12:00 | Online – Zoom
Join Kaitlin Maurer from Quinte Conservation to learn about monitoring in the Bay of Quinte for invasive carps. Quinte Conservation supports Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by expanding their early detection surveillance of invasive carps and Tench within the Bay of Quinte; this includes targeted surveys for adult and larval fishes across various tributaries and bays within the Bay of Quinte. The Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is one of four invasive carps in Canada that are regulated under the province’s Invasive Species Act and while there are currently no established populations of invasive carps in the Great Lakes, there have been a few rare captures of individual species, which includes three adult Grass Carp captured in the Bay of Quinte. The potential introduction of these species within the Great Lakes poses a serious threat to commercial fishing, recreation, and the total economic value of the Great Lakes.
Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_R9r2OHzkR4u_NQ61-qZC5Q

2025 Canadian Weed Science Society/Société canadienne de Malherbologie Annual Meeting
2025-11-03 - 2025-11-06 | Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, QC
While all perspectives and prospective speakers are welcomed; this year’s Local Arrangements Committee chose to theme the meeting around the three B’s of our professions: Biosurveillance, Biodiversity and Biocontrol. We hope that you will find these topics engaging and varied enough to provide something for everybody!

2025 NAISMA Annual Conference
2025-11-03 - 2025-11-06 | Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
The 2025 NAISMA Annual Conference is headed to the breathtaking shores of Lake Tahoe! Mark your calendars for November 3–6, 2025, and join us at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada, for an inspiring and impactful event.

Save the date for the Extreme weather events & invasive species (Ian Pfingsten, USGS)
2025-11-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Online

2025 Ontario Water Leaders Summit
2025-11-13 10:00 - 18:00 | The Bronte Boathouse – 2340 Ontario Street Oakville, ON L6L 6P7
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is hosting its next regional meeting, the Ontario Water Leaders Summit, on November 13, 2025. Hosted by Halton Region, this unique event will bring together more than 100 municipal, Indigenous, corporate, and environmental leaders from across the province to explore community-based solutions for strengthening our economy, climate resilience, and freshwater stewardship.

Spotted Lanternfly Workshop
2025-11-17 | the Ojibway Nature Centre (5200 Matchett Road, Windsor)
Join us on November 17th at the Ojibway Nature Centre (5200 Matchett Road, Windsor) for a workshop on spotted lanternfly, a novel invasive insect that poses significant threats to horticulture, forestry, and the natural environment. Participants will learn about spotted lanternfly’s impacts, how it spreads, and how they can detect and prevent it.

There will be two workshop sessions on Monday November 17th with the first session in the morning from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and the second session from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Participants are asked to register for ONE of the two sessions through the registration links below.

To register for the morning session (9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.) please use the following link: https://bit.ly/43EcTX2

To register for the evening session (6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.) please use the following link: https://bit.ly/4oGh5O3

These workshops are open to grape and tender fruit growers, vineyard, nursery, and woodlot owners and managers, arborists, landscapers, government and conservation authority staff, students, gardeners, and members of the public.

Light refreshments will be served and eligibility for CEUs for certified arborists and certified crop advisors is pending.

68th National Forest Pest Management Forum
2025-11-18 - 2025-11-20 | Courtyard Marriott Downtown in Ottawa, Ontario
Organized by Natural Resources Canada in support of the National Forest Pest Strategy, the Forum is the largest and most significant gathering of forest pest management experts, managers, and practitioners in Canada. The objectives are to share information on current and future pest conditions, pest control operations, environmental issues, and the development of new technologies for forest health monitoring and management, as well as to discuss the latest research findings.
In-person at the Courtyard Marriott Downtown in Ottawa, Ontario and virtually via Zoom hosted by the Canadian Institute of Forestry.
Register by November 15th, 2025

Webinar: Harnessing AI for Invasive Species Detection: Smart Traps, Drones, and Machine Learning in Action
2025-11-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
Dr. Melissa Miller from the University of Florida will present her work on developing AI-powered smart traps designed to detect and remove invasive tegu lizards—large, fast-moving reptiles that threaten native wildlife and agriculture in the southeastern U.S. Dr. Thomas O’Shea-Wheller from the University of Exeter will share his team’s research on using deep learning models to detect invasive hornets in real time, offering critical insights for rapid response and containment. Representing Ducks Unlimited Canada, Matthew Bolding and Mallory Carpenter will discuss their efforts to integrate drone technology and AI to monitor populations of European water chestnut, a fast-spreading aquatic invasive plant impacting wetland biodiversity and water quality.
This webinar will highlight how emerging technologies are being adapted and applied to meet the challenges of invasive species detection in the field—providing a glimpse into the future of smart conservation.

The sixth biennial Delta Invasive Species Symposium
2025-12-04 | the California Natural Resources Agency headquarters in downtown Sacramento
Save the date for the sixth biennial Delta Invasive Species Symposium, Modeling and Managing Invasive Species for Tomorrow’s Delta. The Symposium will take place at the California Natural Resources Agency headquarters in downtown Sacramento on December 4, 2025.
Organized by the Delta Interagency Invasive Species Coordination DIISC Team, the Symposium is free to attend and open to anyone interested in the impacts of invasive species in the Delta region. The event will be held in person with a virtual attendance option. Additional details and registration information will be available this fall.

Annual Biocontrol Summit: Successes in Biocontrol – Weed Management’s Silent Hero
2025-12-04 11:00 - 15:00 | Online
The North American Invasive Species Management Association’s 6th Annual Weed Biocontrol Summit will be held virtually on December 4, 2025, from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm CST. This annual event shares the latest advances in classical weed biocontrol research with invasive plant managers and educators across North America, fostering connections between researchers and on-the-ground practitioners.

2025 U.S. Water Leaders Summit
2025-12-05 | MacRay Harbor, Michigan
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is hosting its U.S. Water Leaders Summit in Macomb County, Michigan—just 30 minutes north of Detroit. Proudly supported by Title Sponsor U.S. Pipe, this unique regional meeting will convene more than 100 municipal, Indigenous, corporate, and environmental leaders from across the region. Together, they will explore community-driven solutions to strengthen the economy, enhance climate resilience, and advance freshwater stewardship.

The 2nd International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference
2025-12-09 - 2025-12-10 | Online
The second International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference is being organized by the Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Network and hosted by the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA). The 1st IISCCC (January 2024) was a smashing success with nearly 1300 attendees from >20 countries and 6 continents.

This time we are hoping for presentation proposals from natural/cultural resource managers and early careers – Pitch us on a presentation here.

The Second Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference
2025-12-09 13:00 - 2025-12-10 17:00 | Online

Landscape Ontario Congress
2026-01-06 - 2026-01-08 | Toronto Congress Centre
The Landscape Ontario Congress is Canada’s largest annual trade show and conference for landscape professionals

Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference
2026-01-18 - 2026-01-20 | Sheraton Hotel Toronto, Ontario
Conference programming, including the opportunity to connect with your ROMA Board Zone Representatives and Zone Colleagues and attend additional workshops, begins the morning of Sunday, January 18. Plan to arrive Saturday so you can you don’t miss a thing.

Great Lakes Public Forum under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
2026-02-04 - 2026-02-05 | Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building at 77 West Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement calls for the United States and Canada to convene the Great Lakes Public Forum every three years to discuss progress made under the Agreement. The Forum also provides an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on the Progress Report of the Parties to the International Joint Commission, who is tasked with obtaining public feedback and advising on the implementation of the Agreement.

Webinar: Fighting Back Against Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: A Review of the Tools in the Toolbox
2026-02-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
This presentation will inform viewers of the unique lifecycle of HWA and the integrated pest management interventions available to landowners and managers such as silviculture and pesticide application. We will discuss the current monitoring efforts and programs in Ontario and some of the actions taking place outside of Ontario (i.e., biocontrol) to help mitigate the impact of HWA to hemlocks and ensure their future on the landscape.

NAISMA Webinar: Shaping Public Policy: Advocacy in Action
2026-02-18 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
Political processes can be convoluted and esoteric, but remain key avenues for influence and the expression of public values. This webinar will illuminate the inner workings of Congress and federal agencies, and the methods available to make your voice strategic and effective when pushing for change.

ECO Impact
2026-02-19 - 2026-02-20 | Calgary, Alberta
Established in 2017, ECO IMPACT has become a cornerstone event for Canada’s Environmental Professionals. What began as a celebration of yearly achievements has evolved into a comprehensive platform that combines award recognition with professional development.

Seeking feedback on Ministry of Natural Resources’ draft Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan
2026-02-23
Submit your feedback by February 23, 2026
As part of Ontario’s ongoing commitment to preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species that threaten our environment, economy, and communities, I am pleased to share that the draft renewed Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan is now posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario.
The renewed Strategic Plan addresses the increasing and complex challenges posed by invasive species in Ontario. By strengthening coordinated efforts in prevention, early detection, rapid response, and adaptive management, Ontario is taking decisive action to safeguard biodiversity, reduce economic risks, and ensure the long‑term health of ecosystems that support jobs, recreation, and cultural values. These efforts help safeguard our communities and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
Feedback received through the original Renewing the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan proposal, along with engagement from partners and stakeholders, has informed the development of this draft. The renewed Plan outlines five goals that support a future where Ontario’s natural environment, communities, and economy are protected from the harm caused by invasive species. It also builds on the foundation of the 2012 Strategic Plan and the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan: Review of Progress (2012–2022).
We invite your comments on the new policy proposal, Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan (ERO #025-1334), https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1334, which is open for a 45‑day comment period from January 9, 2026, to February 23, 2026, on the Environmental Registry of Ontario. All feedback received on the draft will be considered in preparing the final Strategic Plan.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the draft further, please contact the Biodiversity and Invasive Species Section at invasive.species@ontario.ca.

USDA Cooperative Research Forum on Invasive Species
2026-02-24 - 2026-02-26 | Graduate Hotel in Annapolis, MD
Important Deadlines

The deadline for poster abstract submission is February 1, 2026.
The deadline for oral presentation abstract submission is January 9, 2026

Keynote Speakers: Wednesday Morning
Dr. Jennifer Koch, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
The Tree Species in Peril Breeding Program
Dr. Jiri Hulcr, University of Florida, Entomology And Nematology Department
The role of AI in invasive species science and management
Session Topics: Wednesday and Thursday

Invasive Plants
Invasive Pathogens of Trees
Biological Control of Invasive Species
Area-wide Management of Invasive Species
Research Reports.

Webinar: Transforming the Problem: Using Invasive Species for Art, Craft and Woodworking
2026-02-24 01:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
From buckthorn to dog-strangling vine and phragmites, we’ll explore a few different ways to turn invasive species into art supplies. Artist and maker Kate Hayday will share a few projects she’s made using the invasive species found in her forest as raw materials. Needlefelting, natural inks and dyes, automata, and sturdy basket handles, this talk is all about finding beauty in unexpected places.

Insects and Climate Change Education Day
2026-02-24 09:30 - 13:30 | Online
Climate change is a concern across the Commonwealth. While many communities prepare by discussing improvements to infrastructure and disaster preparedness, managed and natural landscapes will demand attention too. We will highlight some of the manifestations of climate change, plant responses to those changes (trees and shrubs) and the interplay with insects (including pests).
Learn how:

Insect populations fluctuate in response to climate change.
Climate change affects the functioning & composition of our forests.
Urban heat islands and climate change increase urban tree stress & increase pest insect fitness (scale insects).
To be better prepared to predict and manage insect pest outbreaks caused by warming temperatures.

International Conference on Water Management Modeling
2026-02-25 - 2026-02-27 | The Westin Toronto Airport Hotel
The ICWMM brings together professionals from around the world to exchange ideas on current practices and emerging technologies in water management. Emphasis is on state-of-the-art computer modeling for resolving water quantity and quality problems in stormwater, wastewater, watershed, and water distribution systems.
Abstract submission deadline is February 1st, 2026.

Alberta Invasive Species Council 2026 Conference
2026-03-11 - 2026-03-12 | Olds College of Agriculture and Technology
A variety of sessions focused on invasive species as well as certified pesticide applicator credits and CEU credits will be offered. We will be hosting a poster session, a 50/50 raffle and opportunities for networking and sponsorship – please contact us at communications@abinvasives.ca to inquire.
