Invasive Weeds

SAMPLE TEXT

Location: Alaska

Description: According to the USDA, "In recent years, well established and expanding populations of highly invasive plants have been documented in Alaska. These species pose a serious threat to Alaska's agriculture, tourism, wildlife, fisheries, and subsistence resources. Alaska is in an unique position to avoid the extensive invasive plant problems that plague the rest of the U.S." The purpose of this project is to connect local observers with invasive plant experts and to provide a comprehensive resource for the location of these observations, and develop a dialogue for observers interested in this topic and contributing to the knowledge on the subject.

Background:

Funding: UAF

Partners:

Observing Guidance: Observers are directed to the Alaska Weed ID App, and encouraged to use the system for posting observations. This app is available at the App store for Iphone. Invasive plant and weed observations posted on LEO will be shared with system owners via this project.

Source Data: What is the information inputs for the project? Example: LEO Network posts, other observation data sources.

Outputs: What kinds of information outputs should contributors expect from the project? Example: addition to regional map, addition to timeline trend. Development or inclusion as contributor to published report or paper.

Project Updates: What feed back is

Resources:

UAF Cooperative Extension Service – Committee for Noxious and Invasive Pests Management (CNIPM), "Its goal is to heighten awareness of the problems associated with non-native invasive pests and to bring about greater statewide coordination, cooperation and action to halt the introduction and spread of undesirable pests."

Forest Service, Alaska Region & USDA – Selected Invasive Plants of Alaska 2004 "When trying to identify an unknown plant, color photos often help. This pocket guide provides a selection of invasive plants found across Alaska today. This booklet is not intended to take the place of more comprehensive reference guides, but to help those unfamiliar with these species to begin to recognize them, as the first step towards taking action." Produced by State & Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection

Media:

Kodiak Daily Mirror – (2017-03-16) Invasive plants found in local chicken feed, "KODIAK – A local farmer discovered seeds from an invasive plant species prohibited in Alaska in a popular brand of poultry feed. Following the find, state officials found an additional three prohibited species included in three varieties of the brand’s poultry feed." By Joann Snoderly