Forest Health and Invasive Plants KEVIN ROHLING, PROJECT COORDINATOR RIVER TO RIVER COOPERATIVE WEED MANAGEMENT AREA

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1 Forest Health and Invasive Plants KEVIN ROHLING, PROJECT COORDINATOR RIVER TO RIVER COOPERATIVE WEED MANAGEMENT AREA

2 Established in 2006 Full-time project coordinator Formalized Partnership between 13 federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations, and universities Project under Shawnee RC&D Focus Areas 1. Education and awareness 2. Early detection and rapid response program 3. Survey and mapping program 4. Landowner/Land manager assistance programs 5. Establishment of preventative measures 6. Legislation and budget 7. Research on invasive species 8. Coordinated control efforts

3 CWMA Geography The southernmost 11 counties, 2.5 million acres Alexander Gallatin Hardin Jackson Johnson Massac Pope Pulaski Saline Union Williamson

4 Conservation in Southern Illinois 3 Conservation Opportunity Areas Shawnee National Forest 3 National Wildlife Refuges 15 state Parks 22 State Natural Areas 9 NGO conservation areas 1,000 s of acres of conservation easements 2,100 species of flowering plants 107 State threatened and endangered species 62% of Species in Greatest Need of Conservation directly threatened by invasive species

5 What are invasive species? 5 Out of place, out of balance Typically non-native Competitive advantages No natural checks AP Photo/Illinois River Biological Station via the Detroit free Press, Nerissa Michaels Debbie Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Kerry Britton, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Linda Haugen, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

6 Impacts of Invasive Plants Can alter soil ecology (e.g. buckthorns, autumn olive, garlic mustard) Can form dense thickets Can reduce species richness and density Reduce tree regeneration, growth, and longevity Recreational impacts Wildlife considerations Reduces and alters habitats

7 Bush Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) Affects tree regeneration, growth, and longevity Displaces native vegetation Can reduce recreational uses Wildlife impacts

8 Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) Clonal forming large dense patches Allelopathic Displaces native vegetation Can reduce recreational uses

9 Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) Affects tree regeneration, growth, and longevity Displaces native vegetation Can reduce recreational uses Wildlife impacts

10 Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) Affects tree regeneration Displaces native vegetation Can reduce recreational uses Wildlife impacts

11 Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) Affects tree growth Displaces native vegetation Can reduce recreational uses Wildlife impacts

12 Japanese chaff flower (Achyranthes japonica) Presumably affects tree growth Displaces native vegetation Can reduce recreational uses Wildlife impacts

13 Management and Invasive Species Spread Management, such as FSI, harvest, prescribed burning, and invasive control are disturbance events Invasive species take advantage of Bare soil Disturbed soil Increased sunlight Accidental introductions and spread from equipment/personnel

14 What Can We Do? Implement Best Management Practices Prevention Early Detection, Rapid Response Control Monitoring Restoration

15 Invasive Plants in Management Planning Survey and determine the presence and abundance of each invasive species Plan will depend on species, abundance, site conditions, and additional upcoming management Generally, the sooner treatment can begin, the better Fire adapted invasive species should be treated before and after prescribed burns Established invasive species will need at least two-three years of treatment for lasting effects and regular monitoring is necessary Timing of treatments and timing of other management can have enormous impacts

16 Best Management Practices Non-native Invasive Species Best Management Practices USFS telprdb pdf Wisconsin s Forestry Best Management Practices /FinalForestryBMPManual_ pdf

17 Forest Restoration Support Team RTR-CWMA and SIPBA Forest Restoration Support Team Core training and advanced volunteer certification in forestry Consists of training, invasive species volunteer days and volunteer prescribed burning

18 Questions? 18 Website: Kevin Rohling,