[APWG] Fw: [ma-eppc] FW: PABIODIV: NJ Invasive Species

[Jil_Swearingen at nps.gov]

Please see below. -Jil

----- Forwarded by Jil Swearingen/NCR/NPS on 10/21/2004 10:31 AM -----
                                                                                                                                       
                      "Dennis Burton"                                                                                                  
                      <dburton at schuylkill        To:       <ma-eppc at yahoogroups.com>                                                   
                      center.org>                cc:       (bcc: Jil Swearingen/NCR/NPS)                                               
                                                 Subject:  [ma-eppc] FW: PABIODIV: NJ Invasive Species                                 
                      10/20/2004 01:47 PM                                                                                              
                      AST                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                       



Encouraging news


New Jersey Bans Non-Native Plants on State Land

TRENTON, New Jersey, October 19, 2004 (ENS) - New Jersey is
prohibiting the planting of non-native species on state lands, and
the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued an
advisory list of 20 tree species, 40 shrub species, 15 vine species,
66 herb species, and 16 grass and sedge species that are no longer
welcome on public lands in New Jersey.

The list contains just a fraction of the more than 1,200
nonindigenous plants in New Jersey that have been introduced,
accidentally or intentionally, mostly from Europe and Asia. Because
these tend to have few natural predators or parasites on this
continent, they are aggressive competitors for space and nutrients in
New Jersey's natural areas.

The new policy is intended to reduce the spread of these invasive
species that choke out New Jersey's natural plants and threaten
wetlands and waterways, said DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell,
announcing the directive on Thursday.

"State agencies need to lead by example and stop planting invasive
species on lands that we manage," said Campbell. "This is a small,
but important step in our long-term struggle to address this
significant threat to New Jersey's rich natural heritage."

Invasive species also threaten New Jersey's agricultural resources
through lost production and marketability for agricultural products.

Campbell is ordering DEP employees, consultants and contractors not
to use invasive, nonindigenous plant species in planning and
implementing plantings, landscaping and land management activities
such as habitat restoration and reforestation on state lands and
waters.

In July 2003, the Final Report of the New Jersey Comparative Risk
Project identified invasive species, including plants, insects and
other organisms, as one of the top four environmental problems facing
New Jersey.

Some of these species cause harm by contributing to species
extinctions, altering the structure of natural plant communities,
disrupting ecosystem functions, and degrading recreational
opportunities.

Harmful invasive plants are spoiling open spaces such as Island Beach
State Park, Rancocas State Park, and the Black River Natural Area,
said Campbell.

Invasive species often form dense stands or thickets that crowd out
native vegetation. Harmful invasive species not only threaten plant
biodiversity but also affect wildlife that depend on the displaced
native species for food.

Invasive species are now recognized as a threat to the health of
biodiversity throughout the nation and the resulting ecological
damage is costing millions of dollars in economic losses each year.

Earlier this year, Governor James McGreevey signed an executive order
forming an Invasive Species Council charged with submitting an
Invasive Species Management Plan for the state in 2005.

A report entitled An Overview of Nonindigenous Plant Species in New
Jersey is available on the DEP's website at
http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/natural/heritage/InvasiveReport.pdf