page 1 of 8

Next >

Submodule 4: What can I do to help decrease the spread of invasive plants onto western rangelands?

Background

In 1999, Executive Order 13112 created the National Invasive Species Council. One proclamation of the Order was that federal agencies having invasive plants as part of their mandate must “promote public education on invasive species and the means to address them to the extent practicable and permitted by law.” If people have a clear understanding of the economic and ecological devastation that invasive plants can cause, they will be more likely to participate in weed control and to support public and private funding of management programs.

 

Preventing the introduction of invasive plants is by far the most economical and effective method of weed control. By the time weeds have become established, it is often too expensive to eradicate the plants, and eliminating them from the area may no longer be possible. At this point, containment may be the best option so workers must concentrate on limiting the spread of small patches of weeds. Some western states have substantial areas covered with invasive plants, including California at 18% and Texas at 10% according to The Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds (FICMNEW). These figures are daunting and the numbers are only increasing.

 

Cooperation between landowners, government agencies, and other organizations is central to the fight to control invasive weeds. Many groups have policies and procedures already in place for early detection and eradication of weed infestations. They may also have funding for herbicides, equipment, plant materials for restoration, and other supplies. Because weed invasions are usually slow and unapparent, people are less likely to realize the urgency of the situation compared to a fast and furious event such as wildfires. This problem calls for a coordinated effort, which can be provided by many public and private organizations.

 

Several organizations, both public and private, solicit help from the public to identify weed infestations and locations. This help is critical. A 2003 report from the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds (FICMNEW) stated that Action 1 for a coordinated effort for early detection and reporting of weed infestations is: “Develop a National Early Detection Network of active amateur and professional plant collectors across the U.S. to assist in detecting and reporting new plant species.”

 

(photo courtesy John Hays)

 

 

page 1 of 8

Next >