We’ve had the joy of going on hikes led by Joyce to various Kentucky Nature
Preserves over the past twenty years! We knew she was an exceptional leader
and teacher then and she continues to share her love of nature and improve the
world we live in.
Jeanne
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 26, 2022, at 3:44 PM, Barbara Eilert <beilert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Congratulations Joyce!
Barbara Eilert, Jefferson County
On Dec 26, 2022, at 12:32 PM, Indira Sunil Thirkannad<1671977648482blob.jpg>
<drindirasunil@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Congratulations, Joyce!
Well deserved!
Sincere admiration,
Indira.
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 26, 2022, at 10:20 AM, kybirder@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Joyce’s contributions throughout the years working in Kentucky has been
recognized for many years! In 2011, Joyce received “Natualist of the Year”
for going above and beyond making Kentucky a better place for all! Joyce
has not relaxed in her retirement and constantly contributes her knowledge
to us all! Well done, Joyce!
Pat Meyer
Past President of KSNS
Jefferson County, KY
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail for iPad
On Monday, December 26, 2022, 9:43 AM, Steve Kistler <kistlers76@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Go Joyce!!
Thx for sharing.
Steve Kistler
On Mon, Dec 26, 2022 at 8:39 AM Ce Ci <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
For those that don't personally know Joyce on this listserv, I'm sure
you've read her informative posts before. And while Joyce is too modest to
toot her own horn, I'll do so by sharing this article that appears in the
Frankfort State-Journal and touches on her work ridding our commonwealth of
invasive species of plants. Kudos (not kudzu), Joyce!
Bender's work in invasive species management earns her a spot in Hall of
Fame
LINDA YOUNKIN Dec. 23, 2022
Joyce Bender has spent her life outdoors, working to maintain and improve
Kentucky’s ecosystems.
She spent 31 years managing the state nature preserve system for the
Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, and she was recently inducted
into the Invasive Species Management Hall of Fame.
“It was one of those things when I looked at who has been inducted and it’s
a group of people who have been in the forefront of invasive management,”
Bender said. “I’m just humbled to be in the same group.”
A native of Ohio, Bender began her career in 1980 with The Nature
Conservancy of Ohio. She also worked in Minnesota before coming to Kentucky.
“When I began working in 1986 in Kentucky there weren’t many women going
into invasive species management,” she said. “Hopefully, I’ve helped a lot
of girls think about doing this. We need more of them. We’re not there yet,
but we have a good start.”
Bender has been an advocate for invasive species management, which goes
hand in hand with advocating for native species.
“When you import invasive species, the native species are doing battle all
day,” she said. “There are a number of things invasive species do to
ecosystems. Native plants have to compete for space, nutrients, water.”
There can also be a problem with invasive species not doing what they were
touted to do.
One is kudzu, which came from China and was initially introduced as a way
to stop erosion. Because of its fibrous root system, kudzu doesn’t prevent
it, and erosion occurs underneath the kudzu growth.
Another invasive plant that is seen extensively in Franklin County is bush
honeysuckle.
Bender said some of the invasive species have been introduced because
people were looking for something new and different.
Sue began working on invasive plant awareness in 1991. In 1996, she
introduced an invasive plant working group that led to the establishment of
the Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council in 2000. She served as the council’s
president for 11 years.
“I spoke to garden clubs to make them aware of the threat,” Bender said of
the early 1990s. “Most of them listened politely, but I didn’t see a lot of
movement.
“Now the Kentucky Garden Clubs has made it their platform to rid the state
of invasive species.”
Another problem with invasive species is there is no natural way to keep
them in check.
“The invasive species are brought in, but the bugs and birds that eat them
aren’t,” Bender said. “You may notice less birds on a path you’ve always
walked, but if there are invasive species that birds can’t nest in or eat,
they’re gone.”
Bender’s work was nationally recognized when she received the Carl N.
Becker Stewardship Award from the Natural Areas Association in 2018.
That was a year after she retired from the state.
Since retirement, Bender continues to be involved with invasive species
management. She does consulting, talking to people about invasive species,
and she’s active in Remove Invasives Partnership (RIP) of Franklin County.
For questions or information, visit the website www.ripfc.net or contact
Chris Schimmoeller at c.schimmoeller@xxxxxxxxx.
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https://www.state-journal.com/news/benders-work-in-invasive-species-management-earns-her-a-spot-in-hall-of-fame/article_a6bd4c64-8332-11ed-9bed-e3f322f8e69b.html
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