[APWG] NEWS: Weed Science Society of American Press Release on Wildfires & Invasive Weed Control

[Olivia Kwong]

Weed Science Society of America
"Weeds Won't Wait: Don't Hesitate"

Press Released

For Immediate Release
August 14, 2007

Contact: Kimberly Mulcahy, 630.393.0732, kimberly at achievainc.com


WILDFIRES:  FUELING THE ARGUMENT FOR INCREASED INVASIVE WEED CONTROL

(LAWRENCE, Kan.) - Invasive plants-weeds-sure have been busy. They 
systematically infiltrate millions of acres every year, selfishly soak up 
precious water supplies, forever alter wildlife habitats and quietly 
invade our backyards.  In fact, the economic impact of invasive plants and 
weeds in the U.S. has been estimated at $34.7 billion annually, according 
to a recent Cornell University report.

Now, add increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires to the list 
of the destructive talents of these insidious invaders.

How Do They Do It?
In the western states, where wildfires are most prevalent, the 
encroachment of resilient, invasive plants has paved the way for a 
succession of rampant rangeland and desert wildfires.  Two culprits that 
play major roles in stoking the flames of these reoccurring western 
wildfires are Cheatgrass and Red Brome.

Where the dry, feathery foliage of the winter annual Cheatgrass is 
abundant, wildfires flare up more often.  This invasive plant acts like 
highly flammable kindling, fueling the ignition of rangeland fires to a 
roaring blaze.  And, parts of Arizona's picturesque Sonoran desert are 
actually bursting into flames with alarming frequency thanks to the spread 
of Red Brome, another non-native annual grass.  Red Brome is a prime 
source of fires engulfing native vegetation, such as Palo Verde trees and 
various cacti, hallmarks of this desert habitat.

"These invasive plants can take over natural areas that once were home to 
a diverse variety of plant species," says Steven A. Dewey, Ph.D., 
Extension Invasive Weed Specialist at Utah State University and wildfire 
expert. "The spread of invasive plants such as Cheatgrass and Red Brome 
across a western landscape can lead to more expansive and more frequent 
fires.  Charred lands in turn are left wide open for an unchallenged 
invasion of annual, invasive plant species.  And so the cycle continues, 
intensifying as it goes."

Dr. Dewey recently was named Weed Science Subject Matter Liaison to the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Weed Science Society of 
America.  In this newly created position, he will be instrumental in 
providing scientific information on invasive weed management to the EPA, 
including methods to lessen the role of invasive weeds in wildfires.

The Effects Of Wildfires Can Linger
- Fire-fueling invasive plants actually have increased the occurrence of 
wild fires in some areas from a natural frequency of every 60 to 100 years 
to an alarming 3 to 5 years.
- Recurring fires can have a devastating effect on native plant species 
that are critical components of wildlife habitats, endangering animal 
species that rely on those habitats.
- In many areas, the increased severity and frequency of wildfires driven 
by invasive plants are eliminating the natural assortment of native plant 
species.  Large areas of land are becoming more homogenous-home to merely 
a few plant species.  "One of the advantages of a diverse plant population 
is the different ways in which various plant species react to fire," says 
Dr. Dewey.  "Those species that are not as combustible, such as perennial 
bunch grasses and forbs, can act as buffers, helping to contain naturally 
occurring wildfires so they don't spread out of control."

How Invasive Plants Take Over
- Overgrazing or other human-caused disturbance of rangelands leaves bare 
areas that are quickly filled in by invasive plants.
- Invasive plants produce countless seeds that travel by wind, animals or 
people, eventually settling in bare areas where they quickly establish 
themselves and spread.
- Because of their fast growing cycles, invasive annual plants mature and 
then wither long before winter, usually at the height of summer heat, 
posing major wildfire threats.
- Suppressing small-scale fires that nature commonly uses to remove dried, 
dead plants can lead to the buildup of excessive dead plant material that 
fuels more intense wildfires.
- Variances in weather patterns, either severe drought or excessive 
rainfall, which affect natural plant growth patterns, can lead to an 
invasive plant population explosion.

What Can Be Done?
"The integration of herbicides to control invasive plants, proper grazing 
management, controlled burns to remove plant debris build-up and 
revegetating degraded sites with native plants all can lead to rejuvenated 
rangeland ecosystems," says Dr. Dewey.  "Healthy, native landscapes are 
better able to resist invasion of non-native plants, thus restoring a more 
natural, prolonged wildfire frequency."

The more we learn about the far-reaching effects of invasive plants and 
weeds, the more able we are to work together to conquer the problems they 
cause.  Contact your state's department of natural resources to find out 
more about invasive species in your area or log on to www.wssa.net.

For more information about invasive weeds and wildfires, contact Lee 
VanWychen, Director of Science Policy for the Weed Science Society of 
America, at (202) 408-5388.

About the Weed Science Society of America
The Weed Science Society of America, a non-profit professional society, 
was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge 
concerning weeds and their impact on the environment.  The Weed Science 
Society of America, promotes research, education and extension outreach 
activities related to weeds; provides science-based information to the 
public and policy makers; and fosters awareness of weeds and their impacts 
on managed and natural ecosystems.  For more information, visit 
www.wssa.net.
###