[APWG] Kudzu in Costa Rica

[Tasker, Alan V - APHIS]

It is not a Federal Noxious Weed, so APHIS is not empowered to take action.

From: apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org [mailto:apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of Joe Franke
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 12:39 AM
To: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: [APWG] Kudzu in Costa Rica


Estimado CATIE Staff:

I have an immediate concern with which I'm hoping you or others might be able to provide some guidance and/or suggestions.

Some years ago I did an ecological restoration and ecotourism planning assessment for a well known ecolodge operator on the Atlantic versant in Costa Rica. I was horrified to find several acres of Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) growing on his property right by a tributary of one of the largest river systems in the country. Apparently his father planted it as an experimental cattle feed and then abandoned the project. I suggested in the strongest terms that he make a concerted effort to get rid of it, as this was a ticking time bomb for the entire country.

I just heard that as of several years later, all they'd been doing is cutting it back and occasionally spraying it with herbicide, but that they still had not done anything else to properly address the problem as I had suggested, i.e. consistently over at least a couple of years cut, compost and "paint" a concentrated herbicide on the stumps and other suggested means of control/eradication that I had strongly suggested they get on immediately. He refuses to do anything about it at this point, and I'm starting to wonder if it's my duty to alert the authorities, whoever that would be, to force him to get rid of the plant. It's already completely choked all other life out of several hectares of land, and the fact that the patch is on a flood-prone river spells potential disaster.

I think that he would like to sell the property at some point, in which case the new owner might do even less to control the Kudzu.

What should be done?

Saludos,

Joe Franke


[cid:image001.jpg at 01CD4ADC.B961B020]
Joe Franke
Sapo Gordo Ecological Restoration Services
1228 Lafayette Dr. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106 USA
ph: 505-515-8736
Sapogordoeco at comcast.net





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