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Global Invasive Species Team listserve digest #109
Wed Oct 16 2002 - 12:32:33 PDT
--CONTENTS--
1. Pulling Together Initiative Proposals Sought (Nationwide, USA)
2. About Rubus phoenicolasius (Maryland, USA)
3. New features on WIST web site (Global)
4. Water hyacinth in Wisconsin! (Wisconsin, USA)
5. A new look to RJ/KOSE grants (Global)
6. Vinegar as herbicide (Global)
7. Letters-to-the-editor regarding invasives (California, USA)
8. Your literature reviews would be valued (Global)
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1. Pulling Together Initiative Proposals Sought (Nationwide, USA)
From: Rob Hedberg (robhedberg(at)erols.com)
The Pulling Together Initiative is seeking weed management project
proposals by November 6, 2002 for grants that will be awarded early next
year.
The Pulling Together Initiative (PTI) is a federally funded program
designed to build partnerships between federal state and local agencies,
private landowners and interested groups to develop long term weed
management projects. The goals of this program, which is administered by
the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), are 1)to prevent,
manage, or eradicate invasive and noxious plants through a coordinated
program of public/private partnerships; and 2)to increase public awareness
of the adverse impacts of invasive and noxious plants.
Most successful projects are oriented to on-the-ground management of
existing weed problems and have significant partnership, conservation and
education components. Although these are not intended to be research
funds, the participation of weed science researchers and educators as
partners could improve many of the projects.
Specific information on this grant program can be found at www.nfwf.org,
or you may request an electronic copy in Rich Text Format by emailing
Jackie.Burson(at)nfwf.org and placing "PTI RFP2003" in the subject field.
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2. About Rubus phoenicolasius (Maryland, USA)
From: Marc Imlay (ialm(at)erols.com)
Good news about wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius) which is highly invasive
here at Chapman Forest and Swann Park in Southern Maryland. On July 4,
1999, eight of us pulled over one acre by the roots in very wet soil
gently using 4 prong spading forks to first loosen the roots. Almost none
came back next year or the following year. As much as thirty percent came
back elsewhere with dry soil. We made a pile but pruned and bagged the few
branches with berries.
For more information:
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/ruph1.htm
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3. New features on WIST web site (global)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
Illustrations for a heartwarming story of successful weed management in
Montana, written by Mandy Tu, have been added by WIST staffer Tunyalee
Martin. See: http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/success/mt001.html
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4. Water hyacinth in Wisconsin! (Wisconsin, USA)
From: Kelly Kearns (kelly.kearns(at)dnr.state.wi.us)
I thought you all might be interested to hear of our newest invasive
member to Wisconsin's flora. A few weeks ago Jim Hansen, a DNR staffer,
was out inspecting a wastewater treatment plant in Fifield (just south of
Park Falls, Price Co.) when he discovered a healthy population of water
hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)! The people running the facility thought
that it had been there for at least two years.
When the leaves die back during the winter, a growing bud is maintained
about 1 inch below the water surface. They can survive at least 2 inches
of ice formation.
The Florida hyacinth specialist consulted doesn't believe there is any
risk of hyacinth surviving in the wild in Wisconsin. It is present as far
north as the Virginia-North Carolina border and plants are observed to
regularly die off during the winter at the northern fringe of their range.
However, it is likely that these plants have survived at least one winter
and it is clear they have multiplied readily. The plants will be removed
and disposed of safely in the next few weeks. DNR folks will be monitoring
the site closely to see what type of survival and reproduction will occur.
This case reminds us that just because a plant is "not supposed to"
survive this far north doesn't mean it won't! If you see a plant that you
don't recognize and it looks invasive, collect a specimen or take a photo
and get it identified. Then let others know if it is a new invader to the
area.
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5. A new look to RJ/KOSE grants (global)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
A "Pre-proposal" document is available for those interested in applying
for RJ/KOSE grants this year. This document describes how the RJ/KOSE
program is being significantly changed. In essence, only about 2-5 grants
will be awarded this year, and they will be for larger amounts ($50,000 to
$150,000). The due date for pre-proposals is 1 December 2002. The
"pre-proposal" instructional document can be downloaded here:
http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/newsnotes.html
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6. Vinegar as herbicide (Global)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
Following the publication of a USDA study, various people have emailed us
about the use of vinegar (acetic acid) as an herbicide. For an overview of
the study, and the effectiveness of vinegar, follow the link provided
below.
Perhaps one of the most important messages in the article is the following
clause: "...the use of acetic acid, unless the material is specifically
labeled as a herbicide, is illegal and a violation of FIFRA." (FIFRA is
the EPA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.) So don't use
vinegar as an herbicide if you do not have a permit for this use!
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2002/7-15-2002/vinegar.html
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7. Letters-to-the-editor regarding invasives (California, USA)
From: Doug Johnson (dwjohnson(at)caleppc.org)
I have recently had a couple of letters-to-the-editor published in the San
Francisco Chronicle's Home & Garden section regarding articles that have
shown disregard for the issue of invasive plants. For example, see the
second letter at:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/10/02/HO125760.DTL
If you can't paste that together correctly, try this alternate url:
http://tinyurl.com/20e0
I encourage you (and any gardener friends of yours) to keep a close eye on
what your local newspaper publishes on gardening topics. We need to make
gardeners and nurseries our close allies, and writing letters to the
editor is one easy way to have an impact on public awareness. The more of
us doing it the better (we don't want readers thinking it is only one
person--especially since I live in Berkeley!)
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8. Your literature reviews would be valued (Global)
From: Barry Rice (bamrice(at)ucdavis.edu)
The other day, my esteemed boss John Randall lamented that he was the only
person who ever submitted reviews of interesting invasive species articles
to the listserve. So this is a call to all would-be reviewers---if you
would like to review some article on the listserve, contact John at
jarandall(at)ucdavis.edu to develop a review!