Mark Twain Forest selects Alternative 2 against invasive species
On April 28, Forest Supervisor David Wittekiend signed a Decision Notice, selecting Alternative 2 to be used in the Non-Native Invasive Plant Control Project to be implemented on all national forest lands in the state. Details of the plan can be had by contacting Forest headquarters in Rolla, and appeals must be made within 45 days of the official publication in the Rolla Daily News. Individuals or organizations that submitted comments during the scoping period may appeal.In short, the Forest had to come up with a plan to deal with invasive plant species. They began this process three years ago, for a plan to be followed over a ten year period. Many methods are used to get rid of pest plants from hand-pulling to herbicides, fire, biological and cultural methods. The trick is to get rid of non-native species which threaten to crowd out native ones without upsetting the native plant community. Twenty-seven percent of all “wild” Missouri plants are non-natives, and some are much more noxious than others. Sample NNIP target plants are kudzu, Japanese honeysuckle, cheat grass, crown vetch, multiflora rose, lespedeza and other plants which take advantage of disturbed ground such as roadways, construction sites, quarries, or other land denuded and not actively restored.
An overview of the process and rationale can be had by going to www.fs.fed.us/r9/ and looking for the scoping document for NNIP on the Mark Twain, but in order to comment on the Alternative, you must contact Forest Headquarters at 401 Fairgrounds Road, Rolla, MO 65401, 573-364-4621 for the specific final document.
