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<font size=3>Bob, I'm sure that you know the literature, and the research
ongoing in control of invasive plants. You are most likely aware
that there are lots of herbicidal, IPM and non-chemical alternatives that
are being used and developed for this purpose.<br><br>
I'm sure you are aware that the definition of <u>invasive</u> is more
inclusive than <u>invasive exotic</u>. There are very few
knowledgeable folks who think that only exotic plants can be
invasive.<br><br>
Yes, livestock grazing of certain invasive weeds can be very effective,
where livestock grazing is a viable option. We find very little
kudzu on the livestock side of pasture fences. Grazing can
also damage indigenous species as well. There are many situations
where livestock grazing is not an option.<br><br>
I would hope that you would tackle the literature on the relationships
among native plants, insect herbivores and song birds and game birds.
That might help you to understand why native plant people are passionate
about reducing the impact of exotic and indigenous invasive
species.<br><br>
Bill Stringer <br><br>
At 03:43 PM 7/30/2010, Robert Layton Beyfuss wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Mr Barr<br>
If my arguments are "straw men" they should be easy to refute
or blow away. You are welcome to do so. You wonder about my motives. I
wonder about the motives of the chemical companies that sell the
thousands and thousands of pounds of herbicides that are used for the
eradication programs. There is a lot of money to be made killing
weeds. The local director of our Nature Conservancy told me he
could easily spend his entire operating budget trying to eradicate garlic
mustard just along the roads in his region with the assurance that he
would need to repeat it all over again within 2 or 3 years. Like it or
not, invasive plants are not going to go away. I would much rather see
some efforts towards finding uses for some of these weeds. The sheer
biomass that many of these plants are capable of producing is amazing.
Many of these plants were intentionally introduced because they offered
benefits such as providing food or forage, stabilizing soil, protecting
water. The fact that t!<br>
hey have become weeds does not negate their other values. A local
livestock owner I know has managed to keep Japanese knotweed, aka Mexican
bamboo, aka Filipea cuspidatum completely under control on her property
by allowing her horses, sheep, goats and pigs to graze it, which they do
with great enthusiasm! If anyone is interested I have photos of all
these animals happily eating this weed. <br>
<br><br>
________________________________________<br>
From: apwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org
[apwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of John Barr
[jmbarr@academicplanet.com]<br>
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 11:17 PM<br>
To: apwg@lists.plantconservation.org<br>
Subject: [APWG] The McDonaldization of the natural world<br><br>
You can have your science.<br><br>
I mourn the aesthetic of the McDonaldization of the natural world.
As<br>
we go forward in time, I see a future where everywhere looks like<br>
everywhere else. Vast swaths across the globe of the same
successful<br>
generalists. Sameness, sameness, sameness........<br><br>
Mr Beyfuss, I think you construct many a straw-man with your<br>
arguments. When someone takes the time to erect so many straw-men
and<br>
then smites with such zeal, I can only wonder about their
motives.<br><br>
john<br><br>
<br>
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