NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES IN WILDERNESS

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NON-NATIVE INVASIVE PLANTS IN WILDERNESS

Non-native invasive species have the potential to damage the biological diversity and ecosystem integrity of many wilderness areas. Although all invasives species can have a major impact on naturally functioning ecosystems, this toolbox will focus specifically on invasive plants (NNIP).

These species create a host of adverse environmental effects, including the displacement of native plants; reduction in habitat and forage for wildlife; loss of threatened, endangered, and sensitive species; increased soil erosion and reduced water quality; and changes in the intensity and frequency of fires. Each year the United States loses 1.7 million acres to the spread of these invasives. Invasive plants continue to increase and invade previously uninfested areas. Section 4c of The Wilderness Act of 1964 requires that wilderness be “…protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions…�. An effective non-native invasive species management plan will help preserve wilderness character and natural conditions.

Forest Service managers should note that national databases are the suggested tool for capturing inventory and treatment data. The NRIS database contains the TERRA module, which serves as a repository for inventory data. It also contains the national protocol for monitoring tasks.
FACTS is another module in NRIS that documents all invasive plant species treatment efforts.

By nature, invasive plants spread rapidly and can quickly cross administrative boundaries. Successful management of non-native

invasive species in wilderness

can only be accomplished through cooperative efforts between local, state, and federal agencies. Although control is only one part of a successful program, it is the only option for areas that already have infestations.

Three main treatment categories exist for removing non-native invasive plant species (herbicide, bio-control, and hand-pulling); of which hand pulling is the only method that should be attempted without NEPA in place. Units are strongly urged to complete the NEPA process before proceeding with any kind of treatment program. In many cases this can be accomplished at the Forest or even at the Regional level. Even then, site specific NEPA may be required on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, a Minimum Requirements Decision Guide




analysis


(www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/)


should be completed prior to treatment. The following paper adds to the discussion and provides some suggested guidance for addressing management of NNIP in wilderness in a NEPA analysis. Regional Wilderness and NNIP Specialists can provide information on region-specific guidelines and requirements.

Invasive Plant Issues and the Wilderness Resource

By Susan Sater with help from Peter Landres

Adapted for the wilderness.net toolbox by Tom Carlson

2005

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  The 1964 Wilderness Act presents managers with direction that creates a dilemma regarding what to do about invasive plants:
  
  




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  Section 2 (a) provides direction to preserve natural conditions in wilderness; natural conditions are interpreted to mean what would have existed in the absence of at least historic, European human activities
  
  


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  Section 2 (c) defines wilderness as an area where earth and its community of life are “untrammeled�; untrammeled is interpreted to mean uncontrolled, unconfined, not restrained by people—protected from modern human control or at least intentional
  manipulation
  
  




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  The dilemma that this direction creates regarding what to do about invasive plants is that managers must choose either:
  
  




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  to preserve natural conditions by actively manipulating wilderness to reduce or eliminate invasive plants, or
  
  


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  to keep wilderness free from intentional modern human manipulation, but loose natural conditions due to the changes caused by invasive plants
  
  




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  A regional, forest or wilderness invasive plant EIS should explicitly decide:
  




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  if treatment of invasive plants (manipulation of wilderness) is appropriate in order to reduce or eliminate unnatural conditions, and
  
  


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  if treatment of invasive plants is appropriate in wilderness, is it appropriate everywhere or just under certain circumstances:
  
  




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  Does the appropriateness of invasive plant treatment vary with spatial scale, intensity, or periodicity of the treatment (if so which spatial scales, intensities, and periodicities are appropriate?)
  
  


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  Should invasive plant treatment be considered more appropriate in some wildernesses than in others (if so, what criteria distinguish wildernesses where treatments are or are not appropriate?
  
  






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  Wherever invasive plant treatment in wilderness is considered, the regional, forest or wilderness invasive plant EIS must specifically address these issues:
  
  




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  Quantity and quality of information on reference conditions
  
  


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  Quantity and quality of information on the consequences of both no treatment and treatment
  
  


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  Monitoring—for both pre and post treatment by any method
  
  


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  Vectors—what is being done to prevent the spread of invasive weeds into wilderness
  
  


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  Rehabilitation—what type of work needs to be done after treatment to mitigate treatment effects
  
  


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  Restoration—what is being done to restore natural plant communities
  
  


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  Under what conditions or treatment prescriptions is use of motorized equipment or mechanized transport appropriate
  
  

Invasive species read no signs, have no rules and obey only the laws of nature

Please join Enhanced Wilderness to get the message out that the treat of invasive species in wilderness study areas far exceeds the low impacts of ohv on designated trails. Invasive species do not read signs and have no limits other than natures. Invasive species obey no laws other than nature. Invasive species travel by air, water and ground using every mode of travel. Birds, turtles, rats, snakes, deer, bear and countless other animals are possible transporters of invasive species. Once an invasive species is established in a wilderness study area there is very little chance of detection because of limited observers access. The very fact that it is a wilderness study area may actually destroy the qualities favored by wilderness designation. Once made a wilderness it's only use is for enhancement. The wilderness advocates are the first to call for improvements in the wilderness by removing and adding features they see as "good for wilderness". How is it that only they know "what is good for wilderness"? Many of us may have a very different view of what is "good for wilderness" and not be afraid to show these views. Who died and gave the wilderness to only a few special selected persons mostly self proclaiming to know what to remove and add to wilderness? These wilderness belong to us all and we intent to use them one way or another. Go ahead designate a wilderness. Close a trail. Make my day. Cogon.

Southern Utah has plenty of weeds on BLM lands proposed for wilderness

Seems southern Utah has a lot of weeds on BLM lands just placed into the wilderness system. When we get more specific information from the BLM via a request for public information, we'll pass that on. You may check the BLM web site here: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city/more/weeds.html to see a small bit of the problem.

Enhanced Wilderness is the only use for Wilderness

Many of us who have previously enjoyed ohv travel on our public lands have had to park the machine and join the wilderness movement simply because we have no other choice. Trails are closed to our bikes and machines so now we must find new and fulfilling ways to enjoy the land we love so much. It seems to us that the only thing possible to enjoy would be to hike into the wilderness study areas, that's now the only way to access them, and do the study thing which is all that's available. Most of us are not very well educated in the life sciences of advance biology as the lady in the Paria River picnic protest, but we find a quick course in invasive species is just the kind of thing we could actually master and enjoy.

However, we now find out that even this wilderness experience could have impacts on our freedoms and movements. Seems that if you actually do find an invasive species to study in a wilderness study area you are required by law to report it to the County Weed Control Board. Darn! Seems they would give the BLM or Forestry 5 days to dig it up, burn it, or put chemicals from hell on it! If they didn't do any of the above then the County would have to do the dirty job and bill the BLM or Forestry.

I'm not sure about you but that does seem a bit out of character for a wilderenss study area. How would one "study the effects of weeds in wilderness" if no wilderness has weeds and how would one know anything about all this if it can't be studied! Now I think the real truth in all this is that wilderness study areas do in fact have weeds! And lots of them. The only people that ever go out there are hikers and in a lot of very remote areas hikers do not hike there. So I guess a former ohv person could actually do some good in a wilderness study area by looking for invasive species and being well versed in what they are actually looking for. If you happen to find one do not touch it! It is illegal to even have possession of invasive species material. Only take pictures and do a GPS reading for the report you must file with the County Weed Control Board. That would be your contribution to being a good wilderness study area visitor.

Many of you are now wondering how would I actually know if I saw an invasive species if it's illegal to have one. Well in many states it's not illegal to have the material. If you are traveling the country where many areas have for example Johnsons Grass growing in fields for cows. You may even be able to buy seeds and look them over for study.

Now that you understand a bit about invasive species you may wish to study all sorts of non-invasive species in wilderness study areas. That is where the Enhanced Wilderness comes in. Once you have parked the machine and the bike and the baby stroller, Yes even the baby stroller is not allowed in a wilderness study area, you may enjoy the wonderful joy of Enhanced Wilderness. Go to the cheap stores and buy all sorts of wild flowers, grass, produce, and anything that may grow and mix well in a big bag. Take this bag to your favorite wilderness study area and hike for miles in any direction all the while placing a bit of these seeds in places they may grow. This is now an Enhanced Wilderness protected by law for all future generations to enjoy and further enhance. You will be able to study all these wonderful plants and tell all your friends how different seeds do in the different wilderness areas. Enhanced Wilderness is the only use for any wilderness. Just make sure you know the invasive species in your state and report the findings. All other species are for study in these wonderful wilderness areas set aside by only Congress for your use. That they will never take from you. It's still yours to enjoy and enhance.

For many of you wishing to study invasive species seeds under control microscopic conditions, we will post areas were these plants grow wild in wilderness or aside public highways. If you find plants please inform us for posting. The study of invasive species in wilderness study areas is very important for all future generations. Please check back with Enhanced Wilderness for updates and information.