The Blue Ridge PRISM Introduction to the PRISM

The Blue Ridge PRISM Introduction to the PRISM Rod Walker , Landowner Ashton Fisher, Program Director July 22, 2017 www. blueridgeprism. org PRISM = Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management

Plan for Today ÚPlant ID for any plants brought in ÚIntroductions ÚIntroduction to the Blue Ridge PRISM - Ashton ÚPRISM updates – Rod et al ÚPEC presentation ÚCreating a Rappahannock organization 2

Introductions and Background ÚGo around the room for introductions ÚWhere is your land – county or town? ÚWhy are you here? ÚWhat do you want to learn? 3

It All Started with Bittersweet 4

It All Started with Bittersweet 5

It All Started with Bittersweet 6

Background Ú Many landowners struggle with invasive plants Ú Threats to forests – both trees and vines Ú Understory impacts – both shrubs and groundcovers Ú Farm fields – thistles, autumn olive, stiltgrass, … Ú Invasive plants present daunting challenges: Ú Many species are well established Ú New species show up regularly Ú They move faster than we do Ú There is never enough time, money and manpower Ú You clean them out in one place and they show up in another, and their seed banks persist for years Ú Issues on how to treat them Ú Chemicals, fire, hand pulling, cutting, mulching, goats, … 7

Background Ú Each landowner develops his own plan, does his own work and then finds he has to defend his borders Ú Better answer if contiguous landowners all do the same work Ú We can do more together than we can as separate efforts Ú A Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) looks like the best way to work together Ú Forming a CWMA allows us to: Ú Share best practices – get more done with less money Ú Obtain additional funds from third parties Ú Provide a vehicle for increasing public awareness and enlisting additional support and participation 8

So What is a CWMA? Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) are local, independent organizations that facilitate collaboration across jurisdictional boundaries for more effective invasive plant management.

National CWMA map www. invasiveplantcenters. org 10

The Blue Ridge PRISM Ú A CWMA formed here in Virginia in 2014 Ú Another one is being formed in Northern VA Ú And others in VA are under consideration Ú The mission of the Blue Ridge PRISM is to reduce the impact of invasive species in our targeted geography. 11

Blue Ridge PRISM Geography 12

The People Involved are from: • Piedmont Environmental Council • The Nature Conservancy • Shenandoah National Park Trust • Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute • Virginia Master Naturalists • Virginia Master Gardeners • VA Native Plant Society • Albemarle Natural Heritage • Soil & Water Cons Dist • • • • VA Dept of Forestry VA Dept of Cons & Rec VA Cooperative Ext VDOT US Forest Service Rockfish Valley Foundation Ivy Creek Foundation 500 Year Forest Foundation NRCS Tree Stewards Forestry services firms Private landowners Other volunteers 13

Current Top-Priority Species v Tree v Ailanthus (tree-of-heaven) (biocontrol possible? ) v Vines v Oriental bittersweet v Mile-a-minute vine (biocontrol available) v Kudzu v Porcelain berry v Japanese honeysuckle v Shrubs v Autumn olive v Multiflora rose (biocontrol possible? ) v Chinese privet v Ground covers v Japanese stiltgrass v Wavyleaf grass v Garlic mustard 14

Working Groups Ú Area stewardship program Ú Early detection and rapid response Ú Education and outreach Ú General management Ú Grants and fundraising Ú IT/Information systems Ú Marketing Ú Organizational membership Ú Prevention Ú Research 15

Resources on our Website Go to www. blueridgeprism. org and click ‘invasives 16

http: //www. srs. fs. usda. gov/pubs/35292

Other Useful Information Ú Factsheets on the website Ú VA Dept of Forestry summary treatment chart Ú Contractor list Ú Equipment & herbicide sources lists are in process Ú Various books on native and invasive plants Ú VA Dept of Conservation and Recreation list of invasive plants Ú Come to our quarterly meetings Ú Learn about assistance available from our partners 19

How to get Involved? Ú Quarterly meetings Ú Working groups Ú Be part of an Area Stewardship Ú Volunteer field work – e. g. removing wavyleaf Ú Training programs Ú Speaking engagements Ú Table at events Ú Partner with us Ú Donate money or help with grant writing Ú Join our mailing list 20

Questions? Ú Questions for here and now? Ú Anyone want to be added to our mailing list? Ú Ashton Fisher at ashton@blueridgeprism. org 21

Other Resources Ú www. mipn. org, Midwest Invasive Plant Network, source of the CWMA overview slides Ú www. weedcenter. org, Center for Invasive Plant Management Ú www. maipc. org, Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council Ú www. dcr. virginia. gov/natural_heritage/invspinf o. shtml, VA DCR Natural Heritage Ú www. dcr. virginia. gov/natural_heritage/nativepl ants. shtml, for native plant information Ú See list of PRISM resources 22