[APWG] invasive species in theme parks

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

Here's a high profile way to focus on invasive problems - getting theme
parks to think native!

I came across the following article as I was doing research on the invasive
Australian tree fern, Cyathea cooperi.  I was floored by the plethora of
invasive species or relatives of invasives described in "Dino Island."  The
park is lauded as a botanical garden ("the best one in San Diego"!).  More
correctly, it appears to be a botanic garden to showcase invasives!  I'm
not certain when this piece was published, but are there any efforts to
conduct outreach with public fora such as this?

http://www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/4631

                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
 Legoland: A Theme Park for Landscape Architects                                                   
 By Leslie McGuire, regional editor                                                                
                                                                                                   
   The entrance to Dino Island is lush with giant lily turf (Lirope [sic] gigantean), Australian   
 tree fern (Cyathea cooperi) and leopard plant (Ligularia tussilaginea) with an under planting of  
  Berkeley sedge (Carex tumicola) and Myers asparagus (Asparagus densiflorus‘Myers’). A difficult  
  issue with recycled water was that using traditional sprays meant that salts would build up on   
     the models. As it is, the models have to be continuously replaced because of sun damage.      
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
 Legoland, and its recently opened new attraction, Dino Island, may be fun for kids, but it’s      
 actually a theme park for landscape architects. True it has games, rides, interactive learning    
 opportunities and everything children love, however it’s really a botanical garden—a park within  
 a park—and the best one in San Diego.                                                             
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   




Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>