2. 91% forest
3% open wetland
30% all wetlands
6% grassland
49% forest
7% open wetland
18% all wetlands
< 1% native grassland
21% cultural grassland
Michigan: A Changing Landscape
Circa 1800 Circa 2000
4. Between 1982 and 1997, developed land in Michigan
increased by over 30 percent
Between 1980 and 2040, it is projected that 4.1 million acres
of open space will become urbanized (= projected 178%
increase!!)
1980 2020 2040
Projected Condition
5. Oakland County Remaining Natural Areas:
2004 MNFI Inventory
In 2004 the County
contracted Michigan
Natural Features Inventory
map all remaining natural
areas of significance in the
County
Partner organizations
including local
conservancies, watershed
groups, county &
municipal land managers,
and private landowners
are now working together
to protect and steward the
identified areas
Conservation Priority
Priority One
Priority Two
Priority Three
6. Focus on Invasive Species Management
The annual cost of invasive species to the United States economy
is estimated at $120 billion a year. The annual cost of impacts and
control efforts equal 5% of the world’s economy.
7. What is an invasive?
Official U.S. definitions regarding
invasive species were provided in
Executive Order 13112 signed by
President William Clinton on
February 3, 1999.
“Invasive plants are introduced species that
can thrive in areas beyond their natural
range of dispersal. These plants are
characteristically adaptable, aggressive, and
have a high reproductive capacity. Their
vigor combined with a lack of natural
enemies often leads to outbreak
populations.”
-USDA
Invasive species can be plants, animals, and
other organisms (e.g., microbes).
Human actions are the primary means of
invasive species introductions.
8. Why Combat Invasives?
Invasive Plants:
Cause excessive economic & ecological
damage
Negatively impact our native plants and
animals.
Threaten our natural heritage.
Decrease the recreational use of the land.
Common Invasive Plant
Characteristics
Copious seed productions
Fast-growing
No natural enemies
Invasive species destroy millions of acres
each year in the United States, cost our
society billions or dollars annually, and
adversely impact biological diversity,
threatened and endangered species, soil
stability, natural fire regimes, nutrient
cycling, water quality, and natural area
composition.
9. Invasive Plants of Major
Concern
The following plants spread aggressively and cause
serious ecological and economic damage
10. Autumn Olive
Identification
• Large spreading shrub, weedy appearance
• Brown lenticels cover every part of plant
• Slivery white, fragrant flowers
• Underside of leaves are slivery
• Red fleshy fruits
Elaeagnus umbellata
11. Buckthorn
Common Buckthorn; Rhamnus cathartica Glossy Buckthorn; Rhamnus frangula
• Dull green leaves
• Twigs tipped with thorns
• Gray-black bark and twigs, with orange tissue under bark
• Brown-green branches
• Thin glossy leaves
12. Exotic Honeysuckles
Identification
• Gray or tan, shaggy bark. Older branches are
often hollow
• Abundant paired red, yellow, or orange
fruit/berries
• Leaves are opposite with smooth edges
• Fragrant white, red, or pink paired flowers
Lonicera spp.
13. Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora
Identification
• Clusters of white flowers with 5 petals
• Oval leaves with toothed margins. Leaflets are nearly smooth
on upper surfaces and paler with short hairs on the undersides
14. Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata
Identification
• Leaves and stem emit a distinct odor of garlic when
crushed, and often remain green through the winter
• First year plants have rosette-shaped leaves with
scalloped edges
• During the second year plants develops stalks, and
leaves become triangular with toothy margins
15. Spotted Knapweed
Centaurea maculosa syn. C. biebersteinii
Identification
• First year rosettes: compound with deeply divided
leaflets or with narrow, irregular lobes. Leaf stems
are long
• Flowering stems: leaves on lower half resemble the
rosettes; upper leaves are simple, alternate, and
become smaller near the top of the stems
• Numerous thistle-like pink or lavender to purple
flowers, that fade to white during seed development
16. Common Reed Grass
Phragmites australis, syn. Phragmites communis
Identification
• Tall grass the can grow more than 8’ tall
• Featherlike plumes at the top of its stems
17. Black Swallow-wort
Vincetoxicum nigrum syn. Cynanchum louiseae, C. nigrum
Identification
•Purplish-black flowers with yellow centers and 5
petals with small hairs
•Twining vine with oblong to ovate leaves with
pointed tips
•Leaves are smooth with heavy waxy coating and
emits a pungent herbal smell when crushed
18. Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria
Identification:
Showy magenta flowers from July to September.
Stems are 4-sided and branch to give the plant a
bushy appearance.
Grows in wetlands and once established, it becomes
a monoculture.
Each stem can produce up to 300,000 seeds annually.
Mature plants can have 50 or more stems.
19. Sweet Clover
Melilotus alba (white) & M. officinalis (yellow)
Identification:
White or yellow flowers are densely crowded on
the top 4 inches (10 cm) of an elongated stem, with
younger flowers emerging nearest the tip, or apex.
The leaves of sweet clover are alternate and
trifoliate. Leaflets are finely-toothed and oblong.
21. By the time we have detected invasives in our natural areas
and along our riparian buffers they are often present in
such high densities that considerable time, effort, and
money must be allocated to combat them.
How can we best allocate available workdays, volunteers,
and funds to support management efforts that have a
biologically significant impact on invasives?
Getting Started
23. Key Concepts
KEY STEPS FOR EFFICIENT &
EFFECTIVE INVASIVES MANAGEMENT
1. Identify highest quality natural resources
2. Locate invasives and map their extent
3. Focus on invasive outliers in highest
quality areas first
4. Use an early detection and early
response approach
From: Phyllis Higman, MNFI as presented at The Stewardship Network Webcast 12.12.07
25. Prescribed Burning
Can be dangerous
Should be conducted by experienced people
Using proper equipment and protective clothing
Need a prescription burn plan & permit
Will not solve everything
Controls shrubs
Kills seedlings
Will promote flowering
26. Biological Control
Available for certain invasives
Purple loosestrife –
Galerucella beetles
Knapweed
Seed-head & root-boring weevils
USDA & MDA Permits
Required
27. Mechanical Control
Hand Removal
Loppers
Hand saws
Pruners
Propane torches
Heavier Equipment
Chainsaws
Clearing saws
JAWZ
Hydroaxe
Skid steer
Bobcat
Etc.
Pros & cons of each for volunteer
work
28. Chemical Control
Using Herbicides
• Pesticide Applicator Certification
• Right herbicide – right place
• PPE
Application Techniques
• Foliar Spraying
• Cut stump treatment
• Basal treatment
• Hand-wicking – ‘glove of death’
29. Herbicide
Selection – Right Herbicide/ Right Place
Aquatic vs. Upland Habitat
Surfactants
amphibian concerns
Non-target species
Sensitive natural communities or wildlife
Resource:
The Nature Conservancy’s Weed Control Methods Handbook: Tools &
Techniques for Use in Natural Areas
32. Proper Disposal of Plant Material
It is important to properly dispose of plant materials from invasive plants to destroy any
viable seeds and prevent furthering spreading.
Burning
Burning invasive plant material is the best option as long as the
temperatures are high enough to destroy the seeds. Obtain any
necessary permits prior to burning stockpiled invasives.
Composting
Standard composting practices often do not achieve temperatures that kill
invasive plant seed – making the compost a conduit for further spread of the
plants. The following invasives should NOT be composted:
• Garlic Mustard (burn or dispose of in black plastic bags)
• Honeysuckle and Buckthorn when in fruit (burn)
Chipping
Chipping invasive plant material at the removal site is an especially
effective technique for woody invasives. The resulting mulch can act as
erosion control for bare soil in the removal area. Preferably removal and
chipping should occur before invasives are in fruit to avoid reintroducing
the seeds to the removal area. If burning is not an option, chipping is still
preferable to composting once invasives have reached the fruiting stage
