Keeping horticulture green
 Missouri Botanical Garden |
Plants are essential to sustaining the stability and quality of human life on Planet Earth.
Their loss threatens the future of our children and our grandchildren. Today Earth has lost a third of its forests, a
quarter of its topsoil, and plants and animals are disappearing faster than we can learn about them, or even know what
is gone. Invasive non-native plants pose one of the most serious threats to the protection of biological diversity
worldwide, and the introduction and spread of these adventive species continue, in many cases, unchecked.
In December 2001, the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, were honored to convene experts
from across the globe to explore and develop workable, voluntary approaches for reducing the introduction and spread
of non-native invasive plants. This landmark three-day gathering, The Workshop on Linking
Ecology and Horticulture to Prevent Plant Invasions, made important progress. It produced the St. Louis Declaration,
which includes Findings and Principles that frame the invasive plant species problem and offer a basis for practical
and effective ways to address the problem. More significantly, The St. Louis Declaration also offers Voluntary
Codes of Conduct. These codes can serve as guides for responses to curb the spread of invasive plant species, while
promoting courses of action that will minimize this spread.
The Threat from Invasive Plants
In the United States invasive
species rank as the number one threat to biodiversity in protected areas. Natural areas managers have consistently
identified invasive species in their top threats to conservation sites. If we are to be successful at protecting the
world's biodiversity, and therefore our own well being, the threat from invasive species will need to be addressed.
There are many pathways for invasive species to enter natural systems. They can either be intentional as in the case of starlings
being introduced to Central Park, or unintentional by hitchhiking insects, like Asian longhorn beetles coming in with
shipments from other countries. For intentional introductions, it is estimated that in many regions of the U.S. the
greatest percentage of invasive plants are coming from gardens and landscaping.
It is this pathway of introduction, intentional through gardens and landscaping, that the Invasive Species Team and the
horticulture industry is working to minimize.
Codes of Conduct
The Missouri Botanical Garden and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
with participation
from the horticulture industry and other professionals hosted a workshop in 2001 to develop strategies that will help reduce
these new introductions. Participants from several fields including government, garden clubs, horticulture industry, and
botanical gardens, developed a set of Codes appropriate for each of their respective interest groups. These
Voluntary Codes of Conduct are
the focus of the Preventing Invasion through Horticulture project.
(Text on this page adapted from comments by Dr. Peter Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden.)
Codes of Conduct
The Findings and Principles that were developed at the Missouri Botanical Gardens 2001 Workshop.
Using the Codes
Information on how to implement these Codes with your business, organization or other group.
Examples of how to implement each of the Codes are given.
Cultivars
Cultivars are plant strains that have been selected for various horticultural characteristics. How do they fit into
the issues of invasive species and horticultural plants?
Other resources
Tools such as brochures to help you in your work to stop invasions through horticulture.
A fully-integrated hardware and software application for mapping invasives and tracking management actions.
A review of remote sensing technology, as applied to invasive species detection and mapping.
Adaptive management planning tools such as model plans for sites, weed control templates, etc. Very useful!
Learn about Invasive Species Networks that help promote best practices for invasive species abatement among staff in The Nature Conservancy, partner agencies, and other organizations.
Powerpoint presentations on invasive species, weed pamphlets, on developing weed management areas, and more.
Other site resources
Invasive species management is not impossible. Read these success stories and be inspired.
Assessments of invasive species issues for various operating units in The Nature Conservancy.
An electronic handbook provides detailed information on the use of manual and mechanical techniques, grazing, prescribed fire, biocontrol, and herbicides, to help you control undesirable invasive plants.
Join our listserve to voice your frustrations and trumpet your successes.