“The
Workshop on Linking Ecology and Horticulture
To
Prevent Plant Invasions”
December 2001
In December 2001, experts from across the globe met in
This landmark three-day gathering yielded the Saint Louis Declaration, which consists of two major components:
1. Overarching Findings and Principles that frame the invasive species problem and present the underlying basis for successful efforts to address it; and,
2.
Draft
Voluntary Codes of Conduct that help govern decisions made by commercial,
professional and government groups whose actions affect the spread of invasive
plant species including government agencies, nursery professionals, the
gardening public, landscape architects and botanic gardens and arboreta.
The draft voluntary codes offer professional codes of conduct designed to curb the use and distribution of invasive plant species through self-governance and self-regulation by the groups concerned. This approach has been used successfully to ameliorate other problems but its application to invasive plant threats is novel and innovative. Importantly, the draft Voluntary Codes of Conduct were developed recognizing that education must accompany all efforts to address the problem and that some future government regulation may perhaps be needed if such efforts prove insufficient. These codes, which are attached, are now being considered for endorsement by the major professional societies and organizations representing each of the groups covered. If endorsed they will be ‘tested’ and revised as necessary to improve their utility and effectiveness.
Workshop participants also discussed key topics and activities that drive concerns about invasive plant species worldwide. Among them were:
·
Economic and
environmental impacts presented by the spread of invasive plants
·
How horticulture
contributes to the spread of invasive plants
·
The nursery
industry’s view of the problem and its efforts to respond to it
·
Government
responses to concerns about invasive plants (the focus here was on US
Government response with selected examples of how
·
Risk assessment
and how it can be used to evaluate whether a new plant species proposed for
introduction is likely to become an invasive pest
·
Educational tools
available for helping the public become more aware of the problem
· Plant species that might be acceptable alternatives to those invasive plants identified as harmful
Proceedings and plans for additional activities by the “Workshop Linking Ecology and Horticulture to Prevent Plant Invasions” will be released in late March. You are encouraged to direct any questions or comments to invasivespecies@mobot.org. Thank you for your interest.
The
A Product of:
“The Workshop on Linking Ecology
and Horticulture To
Prevent Plant Invasions”
FINDINGS AND OVERARCHING PRINCIPLES
Findings:
People
are major dispersers of plants. The
magnitude of this dispersal is unprecedented and has allowed dispersal of
species that manifest aggressive traits in new areas.
Plant
introduction and improvement are the foundation of modern agriculture and
horticulture, yielding diversity to our supply of plants used for food,
forestry, landscapes and gardens, medicinal and other purposes.
A
small proportion of introduced plant species become invasive and cause unwanted
impacts to natural systems and biological diversity as well as economies,
recreation, and health.
Plant
species can be invasive in some regions, but not in others. The impacts of invasive plant species can
occur at times and places far removed from the site of introduction.
Principles (a.k.a. The
1. Plant introduction should be pursued in a manner that both acknowledges and minimizes unintended harm.
2. Efforts to address invasive plant species prevention and management should be implemented consistent with national goals or standards, while considering regional differences to the fullest extent possible.
3. Prevention and early detection are the most cost effective techniques that can be used against invasive plants.
4. Research, public education and professional training are essential to more fully understanding the invasive plant issue and positively affecting consumer demand, proper plant use, development of non-invasive alternatives, and other solutions.
5. Individuals from many fields must come together to undertake a broad-based and collaborative effort to address the challenge, including leaders in horticulture, retail and wholesale nurseries, weed science, ecology, conservation groups, botanical gardens, garden clubs, garden writers, educational institutions, landscape architects, foundations and government.
6. A
successful invasive plant species strategy will make use of all available tools
including voluntary codes of conduct, best management practices, and
appropriate regulation. Codes of conduct
for specific communities of interest are an essential first step in that they
encourage voluntary initiative, foster information exchange, and minimize the
expense of regulation.
Draft
Voluntary Codes of Conduct
February 2002
1. Require risk assessment for government-led or financed plant introductions to ensure that no new harmful plant species are introduced, intentionally or unintentionally.
2. Do not distribute existing holdings of invasive plant species to areas where they can potentially do harm; eliminate these holdings or maintain new or existing holdings using appropriate safeguards.
3. Coordinate and facilitate collaboration in databases, early warning systems, monitoring, and other means of preventing invasive plant species problems.
4. Lead and fund (subject to budgetary considerations) the development of environmentally sound methods to control harmful invasive plant species, seek control of such species on public lands and promote their control on adjacent private lands.
5. Develop and promote the use of non-invasive plant species within all government units and to the public.
6. Facilitate, lead, coordinate and evaluate public outreach and education on harmful invasive plant species.
7. Encourage that employees and management participate in ongoing training programs on invasive plant species.
8. Foster international cooperation to minimize the risk of the import and export of potentially invasive plant species.
9. Develop partnerships and incentive programs to lessen the impact of invasive plant species and provide non-invasive restoration materials.
10. Provide a forum for regular evaluation of the effectiveness of these voluntary codes of conduct towards preventing the invasive plant species problem.
11. Enforce invasive plant species legislation at all levels.
Voluntary Codes of Conduct
For Nursery Professionals
February 2002
February 2002
1. Seek out education and information on invasive species issues:
a. Work with local plant ecologists, horticulturists, nurseries,
botanic gardens, conservation organizations and others to determine what
species in your region either are currently highly invasive or show aggressive
potential. Investigate species under consideration that may present a threat.
b. Increase interaction with other
professionals and non-professionals to identify alternative plant material and
other solutions to problems caused by harmful invasive plants.
c. Take advantage of continuing education opportunities to learn more
about invasive species issues.
2. Identify
and specify non-invasive species that are aesthetically and horticulturally
suitable alternatives to invasive species in your region.
3. Eliminate specification of species that are invasive in your region.
4. Be
aware of potential environmental impacts beyond the designed and managed area
of the landscape plan (e.g. plants may spread to adjacent natural area or
cropland).
5. Encourage nurseries and other suppliers to provide landscape contractors and the public with non-invasive plants.
6. Collaborate with other local
experts and agencies in the development and revision of local landscape
ordinances. Promote inclusion of invasive species issues in these ordinances.
Actions for the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
Invasive Plants Species Task Force:
1. Encourage and work with Landscape
Architecture degree programs to uniformly identify and address invasive species
in plant materials courses.
a.
Work with Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture to conduct
survey of Landscape Architecture programs to determine need for improvements
(e.g., ecological concepts, invasiveness, and the use of alternatives). Bill
Fountain,
b. Work
with CELA to include issue of invasiveness in that organization's publications
and/or within its annual conferences.
2. Include invasive species
issues in continuing education opportunities for practicing Landscape
Architects (e.g. annual meeting, workshops, continuing articles in LA Magazine,
and further information sharing derived from interaction with nursery,
arboretum, botanic garden, and conservation communities.
3. Include on ASLA website:
links to sites discussing methods for risk assessment and other IS issues.
4. Work to include knowledge of
invasive species and alternatives in existing certification systems for
professionals. (e.g. LARE, International Society of Arboriculture Arborist
Certification Program).
Draft
Voluntary
Codes of Conduct
For
Botanic Gardens and Arboreta
February
2002
1. Conduct an institution-wide
review examining all departments and activities that provide opportunities to
stem the proliferation of invasive species and inform visitors. For example,
review or write a collections policy that addresses this issue; examine such
activities as seed sales, plant sales, book store offerings, wreath-making
workshops, etc.
2. Avoid introducing invasive
plants by establishing an invasive plant assessment procedure. Predictive risk
assessments are desirable, and should also include responsible monitoring on
the garden site or through partnerships with other institutions. Institutions
should be aware of both direct and indirect effects of plant introduction, such
as biological interference in gene flow, disruption of pollinator
relationships, etc.
3. Consider removing invasive
species from plant collections. If a decision is made to retain an invasive
plant, ensure its control and provide strong interpretation to the public
explaining the risk and its function in the garden.
4. Seek to control harmful
invasive species in natural areas managed by the garden and assist others in
controlling them on their property, when possible.
5. Promote non-invasive
alternative plants or, when possible, help develop non-invasive alternatives
through plant selection or breeding.
6. If your institution
participates in seed or plant distribution, including through Index Seminum, do
not distribute known invasive plants except for bona-fide research purposes,
and consider the consequences of distribution outside your biogeographic
region. Consider a statement of caution attached to species that appear to be
potentially invasive but have not been fully evaluated.
7. Increase public awareness
about invasive plants. Inform why they are a problem, including the origin,
mechanisms of harm, and need for prevention and control. Work with the local
nursery and seed industries to assist the public in environmentally safe
gardening and sales. Horticulture education programs, such as those at
universities, should also be included in education and outreach efforts.
Encourage the public to evaluate what they do in their own practices and
gardens.
8. Participate in developing,
implementing, or supporting national, regional, or local early warning systems
for immediate reporting and control. Participate also in the creation of
regional lists of concern.
9. Botanical gardens should try
to become informed about invasiveness of their species in other biogeographic
regions, and this information should be compiled and shared in a manner
accessible to all.
10. Become partners with other
organizations in the management of harmful invasive species.
11. Follow all laws on
importation, exportation, quarantine, and distribution of plant materials
across political boundaries, including foreign countries. Be sensitive to
conventions and treaties that deal with this issue, and encourage affiliated
organizations (plant societies, garden clubs, etc.) to do the same.
“The Workshop on Linking
Ecology and Horticulture
To
Prevent Plant Invasions”
December 2002
Mr. William Allen
Science Writer
Ms. Betty Alloway
Federated Garden Clubs of
Mr. Tony Avent
Plant Delights Nursery
Ms. Jocelyn Ball
Mr. Richard Barrett
Blue Hills Landscape Consulting
Ms. Yvonne Baskin
Science Writer
Global Invasive Species Programme
Ms. Rebecca Bech
USDA National Invasive Species Council
Mr. Pierre Bennerup
Sunny Border Nurseries, Inc
Dr. Robert G. Bruenig
Mr. Peter Bristol
Ms. Rebecca Conner
Federated Garden Clubs of
Ms. Jennifer Dowdell
American Society of Landscape Architects
Ms. Kate Fay
Facilitator
Dr. James Folsom
Huntington Botanical Gardens
Ms. William Fountain IV
Mr. John Gaskin
Ms. Ann Gibbs
Maine Department of Agriculture
Mr. David Gilchrist
Horticultural Trades Association
Mr. Hugh Gramling
Dr. Kayri Havens
Chicago Botanic Gardens
Dr. Derald Harp
Mr. C. Dale Hendricks
North Creek Industries
Mr. George Hull
Mountain States Wholesale Nursery
Mr. Andy Jackson
Dr. Kathryn Kennedy
Center for Plant Conservation
Ms. Carole Kroger
Garden Club of
Mr. Rick Lewandowski
Mr. Paul Lewis
Nursery and Garden Industry of
Ms. Sandy Lloyd
Dept of Agriculture
Dr. Kimberlie McCue
Mr. William McNamara
Glen Ellen,
Mr. John McPheeters
Bowood Farms
Mr. Wayne Mezitt
Weston Nursery, Inc.
Dr. Harold Mooney
Mr. Darrel Morrison
Ms. Laurie Neville
Global Invasive Species Programme
Dr. Margeret Pooler
US National Arborteum
Dr. John M. Randall
The Nature Conservancy
Mr. Rod Randall
Department of Agriculture
Dr. Patricia Raven
Dr. Peter H. Raven
Mr. Craig Regelbrugge
American Nursery and Landscape Assn
Dr. Sarah Reichard
Center for Urban Horticulture
Ms. Barbara Simonson
Federated Garden Clubs of
Mr. Richard Simonson
Ms. Jocelyn Sladen
Garden Club of
Ms. Carol Spurrier
US Bureau of Land Management
Mr. John Swintosky
Dr. Susan Timmins
Department of Conservation
Dr. Lisa Wagner
Dr. Peter White
Ms. Lori Williams
National Invasive Species Council
Dr. Phyllis Windle
Dr. George Yatskievych
[1] Sponsors
and/or financial supporters included: The American Association of Botanical
Gardens and Arboreta, American Nursery & Landscape Association, American
Society of Landscape Architects, Botanic Gardens Conservation International,
Center for Plant Conservation,