Plant scientists fight alien species

Submitted by Amy Simpson
Phone: (907) 474-6363
10/19/06

More than 100 plant scientists, experts and educators from across the state are expected to attend the 7th-annual Noxious and Invasive Plants Management Conference in Anchorage Oct. 25-26 to help identify alien plant species and prevent their spread in Alaska.

Certain species of plants not native to an existing ecosystem have the potential to spread aggressively and wreak economic and environmental disaster. The problem is costly, from labor and pesticide expenses; losses to fisheries, wildlife and crops; and the elimination of native species and ecosystems. The costs of controlling invasive species--estimated at $34 billion annually in the United States alone--can rapidly mount.

While the impacts in Alaska have been relatively small compared to other states, scientists have discovered several species of concern in recent years. Since the first discovery of purple loosestrife in Alaska in 2005, several infestations of this wetland invader have been discovered throughout the Chester Creek drainage. Spotted knapweed is another invasive plant to reach Alaska and has become established in at least seven different locations across the state. This plant has invaded over 5 million acres in Montana alone and is estimated to cost Montanans $42 million annually.

The two-day conference at the Anchorage Coast International Inn is sponsored by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service; USDA Forest Service, State and Private Forestry; Bureau of Land Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation District; and several other agencies and organizations. It will feature numerous state, federal and university plant science experts and educators, as well as three national speakers. Participants will discuss invasive plants of concern in Alaska and continue to work to create mechanisms for avoiding problems faced in the other 49 states. Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich will be in attendance Oct. 25 to open the conference and welcome participants from around the state and nation.

On the eve of the conference, a presentation on the impacts of invasive weeds is scheduled for Oct. 24 from 7-8 p.m. at the Wilda Marston Theatre, Loussac Public Library in Anchorage. Conference speaker Randy Westbrooks will deliver his internationally recognized message "Invasive Species Coming to America." The event is free and open to the public. Westbrooks lives in North Carolina has authored numerous articles and books on invasive plants but is best known for his inspirational talks on invasive species. He is currently an invasive species prevention specialist with the U.S. Geological Survey.

CONTACT: Jamie Snyder, invasive plants program instructor, (907) 786-6315, or via e-mail at fnjms2@uaf.edu. Corlene Rose, IPM program manager, at (907) 786-6316 or via e-mail at ancr@uaa.alaska.edu.

For CNIPM conference registration information, contact Cooperative Extension Service, Anchorage office, at (907) 786-6300.

Conference registration forms are available online at: www.uaf.edu/coop-ext/pdfs/CNIPM 06 Registration.pdf