Siuslaw National Forest officials are seeking public comments for an initial proposal to reduce the presence of invasive and non-native plant species.
Objectives of the proposed project include establishment of forest-wide standards for managing invasive species using a variety of treatment methods and restoring native plant ecosystems. Comments can be made through Aug. 7.
“The Siuslaw National Forest has approximately 57,000 acres infested with non-native and invasive plants with no current treatment plan,” said Siuslaw forest botanist Chelsea Monks. “Without action, these plant populations will continue to grow, compromising our ability to manage for healthy native ecosystems, reducing resiliency in the face of climate change, and contributing to the spread of invasive plants to neighboring lands.”
The most common invasive species on the forest are scotch broom, European beachgrass, common gorse, and Himalayan blackberry. Proposed treatment options include manual, biological, mechanical, and chemical methods. Treatment areas would be prioritized based on location and potential to spread.
A map with photos and additional details can be viewed here.
The agency is looking for comments that will help it identify potential issues or additional opportunities associated with the proposal. Results of the environmental analysis will be published in a draft environment assessment in the fall.
Additional information about the project, including directions for submitting comments online, can be found on the project website. For questions about the project, contact Monks at chelsea.monks@usda.gov
Make monoculture clear-cuts illegal. No more sickly strandboard/ paper product tree plantations . Biodiversity, indigenous under story, 25 feet, 8 meter space between indigenous trees. – no more hybridized zombie forests.
Yes!! Much healthier to have the natural biodiversity. That’s what I did with my forest after I bought it from a logger who clearcut/raped it.
And hire people to physically remove these plants, instead of using chemicals, such as herbicides. More sustainable for the environment and the economy.
I applaud the Siuslaw National Forest officials for making an effort to deal with scotch broom and other invasive species in Oregon. I live near/in SNF and have been actively pulling and cutting SB for 3 years and it has made a big difference in my immediate area. I have been able to enlist neighbors to do the same (dog walkers can easily pull SB). I have also planted over 50 native trees on my nearby meadow land to create a forest which i hope will mitigate SB’s spread as it doesn’t grow (much) in heavily shaded areas.
I have found it especially effective to pull/cut SB when it begins to flower BEFORE it makes more seed pods. So, thanks to its bright yellow flowers, I can see it clearly and remove it.
Florence has a group of citizens that have ‘pull parties’ for non-natives. Perhaps if there was some kind of monetary incentive… bring in 10 lbs of SB with roots and get $5…. or something like that.
I was told once that Reedsport had a terrible case of SB and that they had imported some kind of caterpillar that only ate SB. It died out because there was no more SB to eat. Would OSU know of this? Could OSU be requested to focus their expertise on some means of eradicating non-natives?
Lastly, I think homeowners and land owners of infested property should be required to remove non-natives from their properties (or face a fine that supports SNF removal efforts). It’s important for people to realize that SB is incredibly flammable, full of oil that bursts into flames readily. Something to consider as OR faces so many fires.
I would also love to see more attention paid by DOT to our highways lined with non-natives. It would be very helpful when reducing grass along roadways to extend those blades to include infested embankments.
Hope this helps.