[APWG] Fw: [PCA] princess tree/Paulownia

Thu Apr 14 16:42:23 CDT 2011

I investigated a story I saw about an intentional planting of princess tree in Reno, Nevada.  The trees to be used are supposedly sterile.  Hopefully, the trees sold by https://www.royaltreedeal.com<https://www.royaltreedeal.com/> will also be sterile.

There is probably a regulatory process to nominate a species for noxious status in your area.  Unfortunately, California's regulations include a stipulation that designation of a species as noxious cannot detrimentally impact agriculture.

Sincerely,
David Chang
Agricultural Commissioner's Office
County of Santa Barbara, California
www.agcommissioner.com/wma<http://www.agcommissioner.com/wma>

Below is the story I included in my local WMA newsletter.

ECO2 Forests Smoke Creek Project 'A Tremendous Boost' Says Reno Mayor<http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/ECO2-Forests-Smoke-Creek-Project-A-Tremendous-Boost-Says-Reno-Mayor-1143812.htm>
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/ECO2-Forests-Smoke-Creek-Project-A-Tremendous-Boost-Says-Reno-Mayor-1143812.htm

ECO2 Forests, http://www.eco2forests.com/,  wants to plant, near Reno, 14,000 acres of Kiri trees, also known as princess trees, (Paulownia tomentosa), in order to sequester CO2 and as a sustainable yield forest. Ironically, this environmentally beneficial project could become an environmental nightmare.

Paulownia tomentosa is an invasive tree in the eastern United States and is listed as an invasive plant on the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England<http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/ipanespecies/current_inv.htm>, with the Invasive Plants of the Southeast<http://www.se-eppc.org/weeds.cfm>, and with the Alien Plants Working Group<http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pato1.htm>

Princess tree is an aggressive ornamental tree that grows rapidly in disturbed natural areas, including forests, stream banks, and steep rocky slopes. It tolerates infertile and acid soils and drought conditions.  It easily adapts to disturbed habitats, including previously burned areas, and landslides and can colonize rocky cliffs and scoured riparian zones where it may compete with rare plants in these marginal habitats. Its ability to sprout prolifically from adventitious buds on stems and roots allows it to survive fire, cutting, and even bulldozing in construction areas. A single tree is capable of producing an estimated twenty million seeds that are easily transported long distances by wind and water. (Adapted text courtesy of Alien Plants Working Group)

ECO2 Forests has a Global Forestry Plan that is frightening in its scope.  Those concerned about the spread of Paulownia tomentosa may want to question their Global Forestry Plan by contacting ECO2 Forests<http://www.eco2forests.com/contact-us.html>.

ADDENDUM - ECO2 Forests Apparently Not Invasive

In response to my request for a clarification to ECO2 Forests' Global Forestry Plan, I received the following email from Andrew Laing, Marketing and Communications Manager with ECO2 Forests:

"The US Sustainable Forest program will not be using the Tomentosa strain [SIC]. The following link discusses the non-invasive attributes of our Kiri that will be planted in this project - http://www.eco2forests.com/ECO2_Forests_Secure_US_Sustain-279-5-98.htm"
Regards,
Andrew Laing
Marketing and Communications Manager

ECO2 Forests' website, http://www.eco2forests.com/ECO2_Forests_Secure_US_Sustain-279-5-98.htm,  states they obtain their non-invasive stock from the Pauwlonia Tree Store - http://www.paulowniastore.com/

[I was informed by a knowledgeable source that,] CLIMEX modeling indicates that survival in Reno, Nevada even with supplemental watering will prove difficult, and the likelihood of escape and naturalization of a reproductive type is low.

________________________________
From: apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org [mailto:apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 10:35 AM
To: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: [APWG] Fw: [PCA] princess tree/Paulownia

Perhaps someone on this listserve can advise this discussion. Be sure to respond to the original message sender in your reply.

Thanks,
Patricia

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 110
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276

Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

----- Forwarded by Patricia De Angelis/ARL/R9/FWS/DOI on 04/14/2011 01:33 PM -----
Lewis_Gorman at fws.gov
Sent by: native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org

04/14/2011 12:53 PM

To

Susan <sggarden at skybest.com>

cc

native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org, Olivia Kwong <plant at plantconservation.org>, native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org

Subject

Re: [PCA] princess tree/Paulownia

It's a pretty slick advertisement they have.  Seems you'd at least need a similarly slick one to educate consumers and potential buyers.

Lew Gorman III
Partnerships Coordinator
Division of Partnerships and Outreach
Endangered Species Program-Washington Office
US Fish and Wildlife Service
703-358-1911-w
703-358-1735-Fax

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, your are a leader"  John Quincy Adams
Susan <sggarden at skybest.com>
Sent by: native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org

04/14/2011 12:20 PM

To

Olivia Kwong <plant at plantconservation.org>

cc

native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org

Subject

[PCA] princess tree/Paulownia

Anyone know how to stop these from being sold.
https://www.royaltreedeal.com/?mid=1140692&a=168468&s=600352&ClickID=04_53269907_6a5179b9-8b8c-480c-bede-3d7b4a753e86

Susan Wright
Shady Grove Gardens & Nursery
828-297-4098

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