Wayne NF Partners with Friends of the Lower Muskingum to Educate Citizens about Invasives

By Rachel Orwan on Sep 9, 2009

On September 9, 2009, Wayne NF and partners came together to demonstrate to 26 community members the damage that invasive plants can have on natural environments.

On September 9, 2009, the Wayne NF and partners came together to demonstrate to 26 community members the damage that invasive plants can have on natural environments. Participants learned about the impacts invasives have on native plants and animals as well as activities us humans are interested in - from hunting to hiking, birdwatching to boating.

Specimens of invasive plants likely to be found in the area were on hand for folks to handle and study. Sessions focused on two species that are just now getting a foot-hold in Ohio, kudzu and mile-a-minute weed, as well as control methods to keep them in check. Attention was given to current incentive programs available to help landowners with the cost of invasive species control on their property. Participants also learned about Cooperative Weed Management Areas and the opportunity they present to get a lot of on-the-ground work done across landownership boundaries.

One session of particular interest to the Master Gardeners in attendance dealt with creating wildlife habitat in the backyard through increasing the amount of native plants, decreasing non-native and invasive species, providing shelter to beneficial species and limiting the "desert" of the lawn.

This event followed-up on the success of a similiar workshop held last year and was a partnership of the Wayne NF, Ohio Invasive Plant Council, Friends of the Lower Muskingum River and the Washington County Master Gardeners.