WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Jim Hughes, Deputy Director for Programs and Policy, Bureau of Land Management:
Invasive plants know no boundaries. They spread to all lands and water, regardless of ownership. They reproduce and grow so rapidly they overwhelm and displace existing native plants by reducing available light, water, nutrients and space.
The tamarisk tree, also known as saltcedar, for example, can send its extensive root system down 100 feet and soak up 200 gallons of water in one day. Saltcedar in the southwest sap 2.5 million acre-feet of water annually, only slightly less than the amount of Colorado River water used by the entire state of Arizona in a year.
The Bureau of Land Management hopes to treat a half-million acres of public land a year for the next 10 to 15 years in an attempt to head off this silent invasion.
Weeds aggressively invade weak ecosystems after wildfire or over-grazing. There are many pathways that enable weeds to spread. Their seeds may hitchhike to new areas on car and mountain bike tires or on hikers' shoes and socks. Birds or animals may carry them internally, and excrete them in a new area. People also create a pathway when they dig up invasive and noxious weeds thinking they are pretty plants, then transplant them or their seeds in home landscapes -- not realizing they have an invasive species that will survive, thrive and spread.
What's the problem?
The impact of these Silent Invaders is extensive. Financially and ecologically, invasive and noxious weeds destroy natural wildlife habitat and grazing lands, reduce agricultural production, and cause soil erosion. Weeds have infested nearly 100 million acres across the nation. Federal surveys show there are four times as many noxious weeds on public lands in the West than there were a decade ago; they have increased 22 percent on BLM lands alone over the past 17 years. The fact is, invasive plants cost landowners and governments billions of dollars in lost revenues and eradication costs.
How can you help?
During this summer's travel and planting season, don't give these opportunistic travelers a ride to a new area. Be sure to:
-- Research Internet sites and weed control agencies to identify weeds. -- Alert your local weed and pest officials to the presence of invasive weeds. -- Ensure that wild plants transplanted to your garden aren't invasive species. -- Purchase plants that aren't invasive species. Ask your local garden center to carry native plants. Point out invasive species in their stock and ask them not to sell those. An alert gardener in California convinced a chain store to discontinue an invasive plant -- an indication that most store buyers don't realize they are contributing to the problem and will help control the spread of weeds when educated. -- Use seeds and mulch certified "weed free." -- Learn how seeds of invasive species are transported and prevent unintentional transfer of the seeds to new areas. Don't pick the flowers of invasive and noxious weeds; don't pick and transport wild flowers you can't identify; don't camp or drive in weed-infested areas; drive only established roads and trails away from weed-infested areas; wash your boat and trailer before leaving weed-infested waters; check your clothes, shoes and bicycles for hitch-hiking seeds; and check your pet for seeds carried on its coat.
The Bureau of Land Management is sponsoring a National Invasive Weed Awareness Week February 22 through 27; for more information on the week's events, go to http://ficmnew.fws.gov/iwac/niwaw_v . For more information on invasive weeds in general, check out the BLM web site at http://www.blm.gov/weeds and practice "Early Detection - Rapid Response" to help win the war on invasive plants and noxious weeds.
Website: http://ficmnew.fws.gov/iwac/niwaw_v http://www.blm.gov/weeds
CONTACT: Gina Ramos, +1-202-452-5084, or Sharon Wilson, +1-202-452-5130, both of Bureau of Land Management
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