NISAW: March 3-8, 2013

March 3-8, 2013

 National Invasive Species Awareness Week is just around the corner. If you can not make it to Washington to attend the events planned there, then plan an event or project to recognize NISAW in your town or neighborhood.

•  Learn more about NISAW
• Learn more about Invasive Species
• Report Invasive Species to EDDMapS
• Download free smartphone app to easily report invasive species

Bargeron appointed to National Invasive Species Advisory Committee

Washington, D.C., - January 7, 2013.  Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar, announced the appointment of Chuck Bargeron, Associate Director at The University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, to the Invasive Species Advisory Committee for the National Invasive Species Council (NISC).  The NISC members are the Secretaries and Administrators of 13 Federal departments and agencies who coordinate invasive species programs. The Council is co-chaired by the Secretaries of Commerce, Agriculture, and the Interior

The Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC), comprised of 30 members appointed for 3-year terms, provides scientific and other input to the NISC regarding non-native plants and animals that annually cause $35 billion in economic and other hardship in the United States. The National Invasive Species Council was established by Presidential Executive Order 13112 in 1999 to ensure that Federal programs and activities to prevent and control invasive species are coordinated, effective and efficient. 

Bargeron has a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and has been with The University of Georgia for 14 years where he develops web applications, smartphone apps, databases and outreach publications.  These websites have received over 1 billion hits.  Bargeron was the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Advocate of the Year in 2008 and received the Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council Award in 2009. He is the current President of the National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils and Treasurer of the North American Invasive Species Network.  In 2012, as part the Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, he received the U.S. Department of Interior – Partners in Conservation Award.  Bargeron has been an invited speaker at over 80 regional and national conferences and co-authored over 20 publications on invasive species issues.

The Center for Invasive Species & Ecosystem Health, located in Tifton, GA is a collaboration between the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.  Its mission is to serve a lead role in development, consolidation and dissemination of information and programs focused on invasive species, forest health, natural resource and agricultural management.

See more about the National Invasive Species Council is available at: http://www.invasivespecies.gov; and about the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at: http://www.bugwood.org/. 

Introducing the Ohio State University node of the Bugwood Image Database

Several institutions help to curate the Bugwood Image Database.  The Ohio State University has recently joined Colorado State University, Cornell University, and the University of Georgia in helping to build the Bugwood Image Database.  Their involvement will be unique as there are multiple departments within the university who will be collaborating including Entomology, Plant Pathology, Natural Resources, and Horticulture and Crop Sciences. We look forward to this new partnership and are excited to see what new innovations it will foster.

Field Guide to the Identification of Japanese Stiltgrass

Field Guide to the Identification of Japanese Stiltgrass – with comparisons to other look-a-like species

Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) is an aggressive invader of forestlands throughout the eastern United States. Infestations can impact native species diversity, reduce wildlife habitat, and disrupt ecosystem functions. This publication provides descriptions and clear pictures of key characteristics as well as details on how to distinguish several common look-a-like species.

High-resolution version
Low-resolution version

Purchase copies from Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Haywood County, North Carolina Wood Products Under Quarantine

Haywood County wood products under NCDA&CS quarantine

for Thousand cankers disease

 

 

RALEIGH–The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has placed Haywood County wood products under quarantine due to a recent detection of thousand cankers disease in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
“This marks the first time the disease has been detected in the state, and by placing restrictions on a variety of plant material and wood products, we hope to keep the disease from spreading into other counties,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Something as simple as moving firewood from an infected area to an uninfected county could increase the risk of spreading this disease.”
Thousand cankers disease is a newly recognized disease primarily affecting black walnut trees. It is caused by the Geosmithia morbida fungus, which is spread by the walnut twig beetle. Thousand cankers disease has produced widespread death of black walnuts in many western states during the past decade. Other species of walnut, such as Arizona walnut, English walnut and California walnut, have also shown varying degrees of susceptibility to this fungus.
The following items fall under the quarantine restrictions: walnut plants and plant parts including firewood, lumber, logs, stumps, roots, branches, and composted and uncomposted chips. Regulated items cannot be moved outside the county. Exceptions to the quarantine restrictions include nuts, nut meats, hulls, processed lumber with square edges that is 100 percent bark free and kiln-dried, and finished wood products without bark, such as furniture, instruments and gun stocks.
NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division and N.C. Forest Service personnel will continue to monitor counties across North Carolina for the presence of this disease.

Anyone with questions about this quarantine should:

• Contact Phil Wilson, NCDA&CS plant pest administrator 
• Go to the The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website
• Read the Amendment to the Declaration of Exterior Quarantine

Python Challenge: Everglades Snake Hunt

From an article in Huffington Post, Miami: The 2013 Python Challenge, which begins Saturday, has attracted participants and media interest from around the United States for a month long event that will feature prizes of $1,000 for catching the longest snakes and $1,500 for catching the most.

• Read the entire article in the Huffington Post
• Watch the video

Special note: This organized python hunt is not actually in the National Park but outside of it in other National (Big Cypress) and State lands.  Read the guidance issued by the park.