DATE: April 01, 2008
CONTACT:
Gene Eidson, (864) 656-2619 or (864) 710-0882
geidson@clemson.edu
WRITER:
Sonya R. Albury-Crandall, (864) 656-3676
salbury@clemson.edu
Clemson professor named to regional restoration ecology society board
CLEMSON — The Coastal Plain Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration elected Gene Eidson March 19 to represent South Carolina on its executive board.
Eidson joins other restoration ecology scientists, landscape architects and engineers from more than seven southeastern states to serve on the executive board.
“We are proud to have Gene on our board and look forward to a strong collaborative partnership with Clemson and all the exciting work they are doing in the field,” said Randy Mejeur, president of the society.
Eidson is a professor in the biological sciences department at Clemson and director of restoration ecology for the Clemson University Restoration Institute.
Edison has been nationally recognized for his restoration work at the Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, a 6,000-acre floodplain swamp in Augusta, Ga. He has also led the restoration of 2,000 acres at the Kennecott-Ridgeway Gold Mine in Ridgeway, S.C. Both venues offer educational and research facilities for students in grades K-12 and in undergraduate and graduate college courses, as well as for public outreach. He is the founder of the Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy, where much of his research continues.
The Clemson University Restoration Institute hosted the chapter’s annual symposium and membership meeting at the Madren Conference Center at Clemson March 18-19.
Keynote speaker Valerie Wilson, executive director of the BeltLine Partnership, in Atlanta spoke on the power of community engagement when seeking support for restoration and redevelopment projects.
The partnership supports the BeltLine, which is planned to combine greenspace, trails, transit and new development along 22 miles of historic rail segments that encircle Atlanta’s urban core.
This nationally recognized restoration project addresses brownfield remediation, affordable workforce housing, sustainable land use and economic development.
Wilson said that the benefits of this restoration project are manifold.
“Not only will we clean up the neighborhoods, but we will conserve them for years to come and connect these neighborhoods in new ways that will promote economic development and a greater sense of community pride.”
The $2.8 billion project would not have been possible without significant community engagement. Thousands of citizens have participated in tour, neighborhood clean-up and planning meetings thus far.
“This is the kind of community engagement we need to galvanize local residents for the projects spearheaded by the Restoration Institute across the state and beyond,” Eidson said.
For more information on the Restoration Institute, go to: www.clemson.edu/restoration.
For more information on the Coastal Plain Society for Ecological Restoration, go to: www.ser.org/content/Plain.asp.
For more information about the Atlanta Beltline Partnership, go to: www.beltline.org/.
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