Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin

Introduction of attendees, reason for attendance and expectations for the meeting:

Want voice in the process and want to understand IPAW's objectives

Would like to see an educational list of invasive species developed

 

Results of brainstorming session:

Question:       Given the problem of invasive species, what are the most important questions that need to be addressed by this committee?  What action can we take to address each of these questions?

HUMAN RELATIONS/INDUSTRY RELATIONS/BUILDING TRUST AND COOPERATION

How can this committee serve those industries affected by this issue?

• Act as a clearing house for industry concerns (perhaps use web site or discussion group as a depository)
• Communicate/share information via news articles, newsletters, web sites, discussion groups
• Promote and disseminate research that supports and justifies control and restrictions placed on the sale and use of listed invasive species
• Recommend alternative species to use in place of invasives to minimize economic impacts to industries
• How can the IPAW mission be promoted to industry groups without angering or alienating anyone, i.e. avoid blaming?
• Need to provide an open avenue of communication with industry groups
• Give voice to industry and empower it via education and incentives to promote IPAW goals, e.g. distinguishing industry initiatives
• Educate industry regarding the benefits to industry in controlling invasive species

How can IPAW and industries become one spokes group?

• Solicit industry membership in IPAW
• Develop and promote the use of an IPAW label to identify listed invasive species that continue to be marketed
• Seek IPAW links to industry web sites
• Develop a common language, e.g. understand the difference between "control" and "eradicate"

What industries/organizations/activities should we be working with?

• Continue to develop an industry constituency list, building on groups identified at the Plants Out of Place conference organizational meeting
• Learn who the groups are and what they do, how they function, how they communicate their individual constituencies, e.g. journals, newsletters
• Avoid aligning with extremist groups advocating unproductive/unreasonable views on invasive species (non-intervention); use education to defuse extremist propaganda
• Natural Areas Assoc., Wild Ones, WI Wetlands Assoc., WI Woodland Owners, Prairie Enthusiasts, seed producers, nurseries, landscapers, agriculture

LEGAL ISSUES

What effect will a weed law have on industry interests, and what can this committee do to act as an industry advocate and yet honor the mission of IPAW?

• Use an educational approach to address all sides of the issue
• Act as a clearinghouse for industry concerns, questions, issues

What can this committee do to affect the development, management, and enforcement of the new weed law, to simultaneously promote IPAW goals and protect industry interests?

• Participate in the draft weed law review and comment process
• Submit PIR contact list to Weed Law Technical Council for distribution of the draft law

Do you see the WI Weed Law Technical Council as a sub-committee of the PIR group?

• Perhaps, or a branch of the Technical Council

AWARENESS AND EDUCATION

• Who (what industries/groups) should be concerned about invasive species and why?
• Who - All industries or groups that promote the sale or use of known invasive plant species, as well as other plant-related industries, e.g. native nurseries, herbicide manufacturers
• Why - We all have a stake in our natural resources, i.e. we all enjoy the benefits of healthy and productive natural systems
• Why - Occurrences in other parts of the country where industries have been targeted in law suits regarding impacts from invasive plants
• Why - Protect growers from financial losses

How do we get customers aware of the problem of invasive species, so customer demand shifts from invasives to non-invasives?

• Educate consumers, as well as suppliers, professionals/organizations
• Educate public about the long-term commitment of invasives management
• Create materials that can be given out at retail stores identifying plants known to escape cultivation and known to become invasive of native communities, and suggesting alternatives, including native plant species
• Promote Best Management Practices so that customers see positive results, i.e. understand that customers are discouraged by substandard work and lack of follow-through (e.g. not chemically treating cut stumps following brushing treatments)
• Encourage the practice of having trained persons come in ahead of development/management projects to flag non-target plant species to protect native vegetation from control treatments
• Generate a list of preferred contractors at the local level
• Encourage contractors to commit to a long-term relationship with clients to insure successful management of invasives
• Train crew leaders and crew members, as well as business owners in both invasive and native species identification and invasive control methods
• Sponsor workshops for landscape professionals to instruct in plant identification and invasive control methods (incorporate this training into existing professional meetings, i.e. take the message to the industries)
• How can we get industries and other groups aware of the issue and willing to work with IPAW?
• Find out what other PIR committees are doing in other states (e.g. Florida allows voluntary prohibition on certain species, talk to Kent Van Horn)
• Establish "Codes of Conduct" (get examples from Kelly and distribute to committee members to review)
• Invite industries to contribute articles to the IPAW Newsletter stating issues and concerns and proposing solutions
• Generate press releases
• Provide a clearinghouse and conduit for industry concerns via the PIR Committee to IPAW membership, other IPAW committees, and other interest groups
• Establish IPAW website links to industry organization web sites
• Write articles about invasives and their ecological and economic impacts and about IPAW and its mission to industry trade journals
• Attend industry trade shows w/ IPAW booth and promotional/educational materials
• Give presentations to trade groups
• Involve industries in IPAW - get as many people as possible from various related industries involved in the Association and make them aware of the mission and the issues
• Make sure that at least one representative from each impacted industry is involved in the committee
• Contact industries directly w/ info regarding species and problems/issues; solicit cooperation
• Distribute publications
• Once we have a law with prohibited and restricted species listed, be sure that this info gets into industry "red books" (?) and other industry literature.  Does a red book exist?
• Define the impact that an invasive can have on the environment through research
• Get data on impacts of certain invasives to landowners, timber production, municipalities, etc.

PREDICTION OF INVASVINESS

How do you determine what constitutes invasivness?

• Request Science Committee address this question
• Include this information in educational materials

How do you predict potential invasiveness?

• Request Science Committee address this question
• Include this information in educational materials

Where is this problem occurring?

• Refer to results of IPAW/GLIFWC invasive species survey
• Review other regional lists

LISTS

Will plants not totally proven to be invasive be included on educational species lists and will these species be effectively "blacklisted" as a result?

• Request the Science Committee to qualify or categorize these species accordingly, e.g. based on history, markets, users, origins, effects, controls, etc.

How will impacts to industry be evaluated as a result of listing an economically important species on the invasive species list?

• Conduct marketing analysis
• Request that this be addressed by IPAW

Other issues discussed and questions raised:

1. There is an urgent need to incorporate an ethical component into landscape training that is sensitive to impacts to natural elements in the landscape; this can be enhanced through better cooperation among groups within the landscaping industry and the natural land management community through workshops and training seminars.
2. Where and how will the list of plant species considered invasive, currently being developed by the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission/IPAW Science Committee Team, be distributed?  How will the list be used?  How will the list be presented?  Promotion of the list before industry groups have an opportunity to respond will have negative repercussions.  It was stressed that the current list being developed will be an educational list not a legal list, and it will be a working list that will evolve over time as new information and research is generated from the science and land management communities.
3. How does IPAW define invasive?  Will there be a distinction drawn between commercially versus ecologically invasive species?  We discussed definitions presented in Issue I, December, 2001 of the IPAW newsletter, developed by the IPAW Science Committee.
4. Should the PIR Committee seek representation on the government task force on invasive species?  Is it too late?  How can we have a voice?
5. Genetics

Proposed actions and follow-up:

1. Continue to develop the committee/constituency list (PIR Committee contact list)
1. Suggested additions to the current list include representatives of the following industries/groups: craft shops, floral industry (including wholesale and retail fresh cut and dried flowers), ag feeds, woodland owners, DNR nurseries, mail order nurseries, aquatic plant vendors, urban foresters, timber industry
2. Identify commercially import species on the IPAW/GLIFWC invasive plant survey
1. Mike Yanny will put together list of industry contacts for this purpose
2. Develop an industry focused invasive species survey, subsequent to the IPAW/GLIFWC survey, using the revised (shortened) list resulting from this survey
3. Alphabetize industry survey by species common name
3. Identify PIR Committee chairperson
4. Participate in the review and comment process of the proposed Weed Law
1. Submit PIR contact list to Weed Law Technical Council for distribution of the draft law (done)
5. Identify next PIR Committee meeting date and location
6. Develop a strategic plan for the PIR Committee using the results of the brainstorming session