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<TITLE>Re: [APWG] Electronic Public Discussion: Evaluating the Invasive Potential of Imported Plants</TITLE>
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<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000000 size=2>Re: the
well done summary by Andrea W. on recent exchanges targeting and
regulating environmentally damaging species of
plants. </FONT></DIV>
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size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000000 size=2>This issue and
general resistance to invasive organism control and management has as much
to do with our western culture and lingering notions that we have
ability and must exercise dominion over the natural world and all its
parts. Too often that is defined with humans at the top of the hierarchy
and once removed from the rest of life on earth. Too many in our
evolving American culture still believe in that authority despite the known
ecological impacts. Throw in private property and personal rights
issues and we leave the realm of scientific debate and into the world
of regulatory compliance and civil litigation. The "value" of native
plant communities and their inherent ecological associations has to be more
clearly defined in biological, economic and sociological terms to begin to
address the stressors, invasive plants being just one of many. It is about
our personal beliefs and collective "best intentions". Where are
we willing to go as individuals and as a nation to address
impacts of invasive species?</FONT></DIV>
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size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
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<ADDRESS><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Paul Fuhrmann</FONT></ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS><FONT face=Arial color=#008000 size=2>ecology and environment,
inc.</FONT></ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>368 Pleasantview
Drive</FONT></ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Lancaster, New York
14086</FONT></ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS><FONT face=Arial size=2>716 684 8060 tel</FONT></ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS><FONT face=Arial size=2>716 684 0844 fax</FONT></ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://www.ene.com">www.ene.com</A>
</FONT></ADDRESS></DIV>
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<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> apwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org
on behalf of Andrea_Williams@nps.gov<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thu 12/28/2006 3:06
PM<BR><B>To:</B> apwg@lists.plantconservation.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [APWG]
Electronic Public Discussion: Evaluating the Invasive Potential of Imported
Plants<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT size=2>Bob et al.'s comments show the lack of an effective message in
invasive<BR>species work. True, many exotic species are not invasive and I enjoy
them a<BR>great deal. Also true that many exotic species are so entrenched that,
for<BR>better or worse, they are here to stay. But it is also true that people
_do<BR>not_ have a right to do whatever they want when it negatively affects
other<BR>people. You are not allowed to let your dog roam free and bite
other<BR>people. You can't burn tires in your backyard. And you shouldn't be
able to<BR>plant things that will invade my yard, or my park, or my
waterway.<BR>Screening plants for invasiveness will help stop that from
happenning.<BR>There are plenty of plants you CAN plant that "know their place."
Why would<BR>you want something that's that aggressive anyway? You wouldn't be
able to<BR>change your mind--like Pandora's box, once the ills of the world
are<BR>released there's no getting rid of them. Unfortunately, you can
only<BR>legislate for responsibility by removing rights, after requests
for<BR>responsible behavior have been ignored. I work in national parks, which
are<BR>charged with preserving our national heritage--the plants and
wildlife<BR>currently threatened by invasive species. Others may want to get rid
of<BR>invasives to keep water flowing (tamarisk), or prevent unnatural
fire<BR>frequency (cheatgrass), or have more in their natural areas than
starlings<BR>and bermudagrass. We can't do much about the mistakes of the past,
but we<BR>can go forward with the best intentions.<BR>Andrea Williams<BR>Natural
Resource Specialist<BR>Inventory & Monitoring<BR>San Francisco Area
Network<BR>Fort Cronkhite Building 1063<BR>Sausalito, CA 94965<BR>(415)
331-0639<BR>(415) 331-5530 fax<BR><BR>year-end approaching<BR>looking forward
and backward<BR>Janus I am
not<BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>PCA's Alien
Plant Working Group mailing list<BR>APWG@lists.plantconservation.org<BR><A
href="http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/apwg_lists.plantconservation.org">http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/apwg_lists.plantconservation.org</A><BR><BR>Disclaimer <BR>Any
requests, advice or opinions posted to this list reflect ONLY the opinion of the
individual posting the message.<BR></FONT></P></DIV>
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