Free Workshops Teach Landowners About the Impacts of Invasive Species

By Cynthia Sandeno on May 5, 2010

Potomac Highlands CWPMA holds public meetings in two West Virginia Counties.

After nearly a year of work, more than 20 partners have successfully established the Potomac Highlands Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area (CWPMA). Located in eastern West Virginia and northern Virginia, this is the first CWPMA for both states and includes more than 670,000 acres. Most of this land is in private ownership making partnerships with private landowners vital. To increase participation and support for the Potomac Highlands CWPMA, the organization decided to hold two free workshops to facilitate cooperation among land managers and owners to address the threat of invasive species. The workshops focused on the impacts of invasive species, identification of the top 11 species threatening the CWPMA, and providing information on the technical and financial assistance available to landowners to manage invasive species.

The first workshop was held in Grant County on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 at the Landes Ruritan Building. A second workshop was held in Pendleton County on Thursday, April 22nd at the Franklin Community Building. Both workshops began with dinner followed by a presentation on why landowners should care about invasive species and a presentation on the Potomac Highlands CWPMA. The workshops concluded with six interactive, informational booths led by partners involved in the CWPMA. Funding for this project was provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, as well as the Monongahela National Forest, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - West Virginia Field Office, West Virginia Department of Agriculture, West Virginia Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, and the West Virginia Rivers Coalition. Over 75 private landowners attended the workshops and many more have expressed interest in learning how they can participate in the future.

There are an estimated 1,000 non-native species established in West Virginia, capable of reducing yields on pastures and croplands, damaging forest trees, and reducing the rich diversity of native plants and animals. The Potomac Highlands CWPMA has a long term vision of building a broad base of people who share the common goal of decreasing the impacts of invasive species on native plant and animal communities, public and private forestland, agricultural lands, and local economies. The group is working to develop and support partnerships among those affected in the target area, and to increase public awareness and understanding of the invasive species problem.

Invasive species found within the CWPMA which affect both the rich ecological values of the area and farmland include garlic mustard, Japanese stiltgrass, Japanese stiltgrass, purple loosestrife, and tree of heaven, and many more. Several areas within the CWPMA have on-going eradication efforts aimed at reducing one or more species of pests, but it will take a concerted effort by private landowners, conservation organizations, and governmental organizations to make a difference on a large scale. The Potomac Highlands CWPMA has funding and resources available to treat invasive species on private lands.