[APWG] Ecological services of weeds? California the best example?

[Craig Dremann - Redwood City Seed Company]

Dear Wayne and All,

California is the best example on the planet, of weeds providing
ecological services.

Since 1856-65 when the whole of the lower elevation (1-1,000 meters)
native perennial cover was stripped off by grazing during a catastrophic
drought, weeds were left as the only things holding the soil in place, and
providing any food for the native insects and native herbivore animals.

When you start converting the native cover of a very large area,
especially the size of the State of California, into 1,000 species of
weeds, at the least your valuable top soil that took 10,000 years to
develop, is somewhat protected, and the native insects and native
herbivores have some chance to live.

>From the perspective of California, if you have less than 95% native plant
cover in your area, you are very, very vulnerable to future weed
invasions, and you are just asking for a future weed invasion of some kind
or another.

Instead of worrying too much about weeds, the big issue should be
repairing the original local native understory, so that you get as close
to 100% native cover, with as many different native species as you
restore.

Sincerely, Craig Dremann (650) 325-7333