[APWG] BLM EXOTIC-FREE by 2011?--mostly perennial exotics being purchased!

[Craig Dremann]

Dear All,

I had a question about the >ONE MILLION POUNDS of exotic seeds that are
being purchased every year by BLM--are they annuals or perennials?  

All of the grasses, which make up the bulk of the exotic seeds that BLM
purchased--Crested wheatgrass, Russian Ryegrass, Siberian wheatgrass,
and pubescent wheatgrass are all PERENNIALS.

What that means, is that once sown onto public wildlands, those plants
are there to stay for the next 10,000 years, or until the next glacier
scrapes them off, or the next volcano buries them.

BLM conducts three seed purchases every year.  I'm hoping that BLM will
start the 33% reduction in purchases of exotic seeds in the next two
2007 seed buying cycles, so that the agency could become EXOTIC-FREE by
2011.

I'm sure the BLM BOTANISTS and ECOLOGISTS know that going EXOTIC-FREE is
the best scientific policy to institute for the future protection of the
native ecosystems on our public lands? 

Sincerely,  Craig Dremann, Redwood City, CA (650) 325-7333