Quote:
Originally Posted by Botnst
Once these species get established, like purple loosestrife, they are practically ineradicable. Though each species should be studied and attacked differently (if at all), I think we are mostly wasting money on control efforts. Only with noxious pests of row crops or animal disease vectors (including human) have we ever been able to control alien species. And only after persistent, extremely expensive, comprehensive efforts followed by relentless vigilance. It simply isn't cost-effective to do that for most exotics since they do not threaten the food supply or pose a disease risk.
|
As far as the expense, one thing CT has done is to put the onus of control or eradication on property owners who may want to improve or develop properties encroaching on the wetlands/shoreline areas. In order to get approval the owners need to keep species X and Y under control, in a given area which is generally larger than their property. It's admittedly a piece-meal approach but it does seem to be having some effect. Especially with phragmites.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Botnst
The best control is to cease importation of non-native species, which the Garden Clubs of America and the horticulture trade have resisted far more effectively than anything USDA has been able to introduce for control. It's only a hot-button item for a handful of us wacko environmentalists and we have no money.
In the long term, no control will work. The concept of nativity will disappear.
B
|
I'm wondering if your "hot-button item" is on the cusp of garnering more wide-spread support. I can't speak for anywhere else, but here there has been more interest in getting back to heritage/colonial gardening and native plant use. At least on the flower and ornamental side. Even with lawns, colonial bentgrass seems to be getting more popular since it's perfectly suited to our soil and growing conditions and needs little to no maintenance (I'm considering that as well as more native plantings to cut down on mowable lawn area). That may be due in part to the large number of historic districts and wanting to bring that very traditional look back and might be the case in other similar situations.