[APWG] Ecosystem Restoration and Alien Species ManagementRe:Native grassland and forest understory weedings 99%

Thu Aug 18 17:09:29 CDT 2011

Ty, and others, re. organizing volunteers,  I am not sure what state you
live in, but in Virginia we have had a very popular Master Naturalist
training program for about 6 years now; it is similar to the Master Gardener
volunteer concept, but for natural areas. In my chapter, at least, working
to remove invasive plants has been a popular volunteer activity for Master
Naturalists. There are Master Naturalist programs in a number of other
states; you could doubtless google that to find out where.

Ruth

  _____  

From: apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
[mailto:apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of Ty Harrison
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 1:55 PM
To: Marc Imlay; apwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Cc: Diana van Uitert
Subject: Re: [APWG] Ecosystem Restoration and Alien Species
ManagementRe:Native grassland and forest understory weedings 99%

Mark:  Your information on the control of invasives in the 200 acre Swan
Park project in Maryland was encouraging.  We need more estimates like this
of person-hours and years required to achieve this level of managment in
forested natural areas.  I am on the board of a park advisory group trying
to manage a 640 acre urban, semi-forested natural area which is continually
being invaded horticulcural landscape species such as honeysuckle species,
privet, Juniper, white Briony, Western Hackberry, Mahaleb Cherry, and
Russian Olive.  All clearly imported by roosting passerine birds.  We need
to organize a similar volunteer corps to do the selective removal over a
period of years.  Do you have some advice or direction for us to get such a
project organized and sustained over a period of years?  Ty Harrison

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Marc Imlay <mailto:ialm at erols.com>  

To: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org 

Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 5:52 AM

Subject: Re: [APWG] Ecosystem Restoration and Alien Species Management
Re:Native grassland and forest understory weedings 99%

The site was chosen for restoration because it was more native to start with
then typical sites in Maryland. We have found that we do not have to plant
natives since they move in from contiguous areas after the invasive plants
are removed. About 20% of our sites have this degree of % native cover. The
only continuing form of disturbance is lack of deer control; (they won't let
us bring the wolf or cougar back.). Secondary succession started typically
about 70 years ago in this park before the invasives came except for
Japanese Honeysuckle.   Indigenous early succession species such as poison
ivy, greenbriar, and sweetgum are not abundant. 

Marc

  _____  

From: Wayne Tyson [mailto:landrest at cox.net] 
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 11:37 PM
To: Marc Imlay; apwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: Ecosystem Restoration and Alien Species Management Re: [APWG]
Native grassland and forest understory weedings 99%

Marc and APWG: 

I am not familiar with this ecosystem. 

Is the site in a state of "secondary succession?" 

What kind of perturbations preceded the invasions? 

Is there any continuing form of disturbance? 

Is there a "pristine" site, herbarium collection, or other source of
baseline data for comparison with present (and other later) states? 

What fraction of the present vegetation consists of indigenous "climax"
species and what fraction consists of indigenous "pioneer" species? 

What is the strategy with respect to on-site seeds or other viable
propagules, and what are their estimated numbers? 

What is the general proximity of populations of the alien species eradicated
from the site, and what is the state or potential for dispersal and
in-migration? 

Are you tracking population curves for these species? When will the rates of
increase "go critical?" 

What other measures have been taken to accelerate ecological succession? 

Sorry if these are too many questions. 

WT

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Marc Imlay <mailto:ialm at erols.com>  

To: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org 

Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2011 2:25 PM

Subject: Re: [APWG] Native grassland and forest understory weedings 99%

At the 200 acre Swann Park in Charles County Maryland, the fifteen principle
invasives dominated over 20 acres (very little overlap) in 1998. Presently,
the Asiatic Bittersweet dominating 0.5 acres was eradicated, Periwinkle 0.5
acres eradicated, English ivy 0.2 acres eradicated, Ailanthus the 0.5 acres
in 6 areas of patches eradicated, Garlic Mustard 2.5 acres reduced to 0.5
acres, Japanese stilt grass 3 acres reduced to 1 acre. Beefsteak Plant 0.5
acres reduced to 0.2 acres, MFR 1 acre now 0.2 acres (no seed producing
left), Wineberry 1 acre now eradicated, Chinese Privet 0.25 acres
eradicated. Gill-over the ground 0.2 acres almost eradicated. Beal's
barberry 0.1 acres eradicated, Japanese barberry 0.2 acres now 0.1 acre.
Bamboo 0.2 acres almost eradicated. 

For Japanese Honeysuckle, 10 acres, the vertical component up the trees was
entirely removed by 2000 and half of the horizontal component is removed
because it is no longer served by light reaching the verticle component.
25% of the remaining horizontal component was removed.

About half was removed mechanically with an average of 5 volunteers working
once a month for about 10 years and half treated chemically. In summary,
about 10% of the herbaceous and shrub cover was non-native as well as cover
by two tree species.  It is now about 2% This site will become 30-50%
invaded unless we maintain protection in a timely manner.

Marc Imlay, PhD, Conservation biologist
Park Ranger Office (301) 442-5657 cell 

Natural and Historical Resources Division

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

 <http://www.pgparks.com/> www.pgparks.com

-----Original Message-----
From: apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
[mailto:apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of Craig Dremann
- Redwood City Seed Company
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 12:48 PM
To: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: [APWG] Native grassland and forest understory weedings 99%

Dear Marc and All,

The remarkable other side to Mark Vande Pol's weeding, is everywhere that
was covered with weeds, is now covered by local native plants in the
grasslands and forest understory.

I am pleased to hear that you joined the 99% club at Swann park in
Maryland-- so how many people over how much time, did it take to do how many
acres, with what weeds were you dealing with, and have you ever written up
your experience anywhere?

Any others who belong to the 99% club out there?

Sincerely,  Craig Dremann (650) 325-7333

_______________________________________________
PCA's Alien Plant Working Group mailing list
APWG at lists.plantconservation.org
http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/apwg_lists.plantconserva
tion.org

Disclaimer
Any requests, advice or opinions posted to this list reflect ONLY the
opinion of the individual posting the message.

  _____  

_______________________________________________
PCA's Alien Plant Working Group mailing list
APWG at lists.plantconservation.org
http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/apwg_lists.plantconserva
tion.org

Disclaimer
Any requests, advice or opinions posted to this list reflect ONLY the
opinion of the individual posting the message. 

  _____  

No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1392 / Virus Database: 1520/3835 - Release Date: 08/15/11

  _____  

_______________________________________________
PCA's Alien Plant Working Group mailing list
APWG at lists.plantconservation.org
http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/apwg_lists.plantconserva
tion.org

Disclaimer
Any requests, advice or opinions posted to this list reflect ONLY the
opinion of the individual posting the message. 

  _____  

No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1392 / Virus Database: 1520/3842 - Release Date: 08/18/11

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/apwg_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20110818/d0c03f3c/attachment.html>