Current
List of Endorsements of the Voluntary Codes of Conduct
American
Nursery and Landscape Association
American
Public Gardens Association
American
Society of Landscape Architects
The American
Society of Landscape Architects encourages its members to
work with local ecologists, horticulturists, nurseries, botanic
gardens, conservation organizations, and others to identify
highly invasive, or potentially invasive, species, and develop
management plans that provide solutions to problems caused
by these species; keep current on invasive plant species issues
through continuing education opportunities; do not specify
or allow known invasive species on any projects where those
species could contribute to the degradation of the environment;
specify non-invasive species that are aesthetically and horticulturally
suitable alternatives to invasive species in your region;
encourage nurseries, suppliers, and others in the plant propagation
industry to grow and provide only non-invasive plants; collaborate
with local experts and agencies to develop and revise local
landscape ordinances that will exclude regional invasive species;
work with public officials to fund research and control of
regional invasive non-native species on public lands; establish
a regional environmental ethic for non-native invasive plants
that identifies these species and educates citizens about
the associated health and financial impacts; and encourage
elected officials to fund removal or control of existing invasive
species that threaten parks, open space, woodlands, and wetland
ecosystems.
California
Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers
California
Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers’ efforts
have been directed toward the California Horticultural Invasive
Prevention (Cal-HIP) and its Plant Right campaign. In that
effort they have distributed the initial brochure introducing
the campaign to the group’s membership. The brochure
identifies the problem of invasive plants and steps that can
be taken to address the issue. One of the suggestions is for
the individual nursery to adopt the Voluntary Codes of Conduct.
They also have a prominent link on our home page to the Plant
Right website. www.plantright.org The goal of the program
is to remove invasive plants from the nursery trade and recommend
suitable alternatives.
Recently,
CANGC’s endowment for scholarship and research (CANERS)
funded a study of Pampas Grass cultivars. In certain regions
Pampas Grass is a big problem but the issue of cultivars is
still a question. They hope that this initial study will not
only determine the invasive potential for Pampas Grass cultivars
but also identify what factors need to be considered in this
type of research.
California
Invasive Plant Council
The
California Invasive Plant Council is partnering with horticultural
associations, agencies, and environmental groups to develop
California's PlantRight Campaign, which promotes wildland-safe
alternatives to invasive plants still found in the trade.
Through the statewide speakers bureau, the Council will be
spreading information on the campaign to garden clubs. They
help guide research needed to support the collaborative. Cal-IPC
also has published and distributed widely "Don't Plant
a Pest!" brochures, a series suggesting wildland-safe
alternatives for distinct regions of the state.
Chicago
Botanic Garden (also implementing the Codes)
Connecticut
Nursery and Landscape Association
Delaware
Federation of Garden Clubs, member of National Garden Clubs,
Inc.
Delaware
Nursery & Landscape Association
The Delaware
Nursery & Landscape Association has held numerous programs
to educate the industry about the invasive plant issue. The
DNLA has actively supported and participated in the Plants
for a Livable Delaware initiative. The objective of Plants
for a Livable Delaware is to reduce the purchase and use of
invasive plants and increase the availability, purchase, and
use of regionally appropriate landscape plants as well as
facilitate the removal of invasive plants from privately-owned
natural lands. Three brochures have been developed and distributed
via this program. Plants for a Livable Delaware brochure features
alternatives to invasive plants currently sold in the trade.
The Controlling Backyard Invaders brochure focuses on control
measures for invasive plants no longer sold but present in
many natural areas. The newest publication, Livable Plants
for the Home Landscape provides gardeners with the tools needed
to use plants in attractive, sustainable combinations that
are well adapted to specific niches in the landscape.
Denver
Botanic Gardens
The Voluntary
Codes of Conduct is part of Denver Botanic Gardens’
Collections Policy. When new plants are brought in and ready
to be accessioned, the Plant Records department does a web
search for invasiveness. Since 2007, the Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia
crassipes, has been removed from the approved list for Plant
Sale at DBG.
DBG is
in the process of establishing horticultural trial gardens
to test plants introduced through DBG’s plant introduction
program ‘Plant Select®.’
Some of the trailing criteria will be to test for invasiveness
before introduction.
DBG has
representation in the Colorado Noxious Weed Advisory Committee,
which provides advice to the Colorado Department of Agriculture
on listing species. DBG
does extensive research on invasive species ecology, control
and restoration after weed control. DBG
has published several stories in their members magazine, “In
the Gardens” on the education of invasive species.
In February
2005 DBG displayed an art exhibit titled, “Illuminating
Weeds” that included over 30 original pieces, including
both scientific illustrations and artistic pieces of invasive
species inspired by medieval book illuminations by the artist
Annie Chappell. Interpretation for the month-long show included
information about weeds and 3 5’ banners listing the
Colorado state weed lists.
In the
summers of 2005 and 2006 DBG designed, directed, and hosted
the Applied Plant Conservation Training Program; an international
professional development symposium and internship program
in collaboration with the US Botanic Garden and CPC. This
program reached over 50 professionals from 7 countries and
20 US states and included sessions on invasive species projects
and discussion of the import of the Voluntary Codes.
In Spring
2006 DBG established a weed garden titled, “The Good,
The Bad, and The Ugly”. This highly interpreted garden
contained three sections: The Good- Native alternatives to
invasive ornamentals, The Bad- Ornamentals that cause problems
in wild areas, and The Ugly- Silk reproductions of invasive
weeds. Signage explains the importance of invasive species
and the impact of our planting choices. All were planted in
containers to avoid spreading.
In 2005
DBG created a Rare Weeds of Colorado poster in collaboration
with the Colorado Department of Agriculture. This poster highlights
invasive species, which are currently rare in Colorado but
have the potential to become large problems if left unnoticed.
Federated
Garden Clubs of Iowa
The
Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, member of National Garden
Clubs, Inc.
The Federated
Garden Clubs of Missouri, a member of National Garden Clubs,
Inc., recently saw the need for more invasive plant awareness
and formed a new position, National Invasive Plants Education
Chairman. All the clubs in Missouri are now encouraged to
have at least one program on invasive plants and have educational
displays at their flower shows. On a National level, one of
the Chairman’s goals has been to have each of the 50
states and District of Columbia endorse the codes of conduct.
Each club has also been encouraged to include the subject
of invasive plants as a subject in NGC’s sponsored schools.
Florida
Department of Transportation
Florida
Nursery and Landscape Association
FNGLA
was the first state association to officially endorse the
Voluntary Code of Conduct. We urge nursery growers to embrace
the code by incorporating its principles into their operations’
best management practices. The code is also explicitly referenced
in FNGLA’s position paper on invasive species.
The
Garden Club of America
Harold
L. Lyon Arboretum
The Harold
L. Lyon Arboretum is working to revise an early collections
policy to include explicit steps to deal with invasive species
on the garden’s grounds and to prevent the establishment
of other non-native plants of concern. In addition, they are
working closely with Dr. Shaheen Ansari, the weed risk assessment
specialist at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and
with the O’ahu Invasive Species Council.
Ivy
Removal Project
Jacksonville
Arboretum & Gardens
Kentucky
State Nature Preserves Commission
As a state
government agency, the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission,
works with partners both private and public to promote the
use of non-invasive plant species within all government units
and the public. They coordinate and lead on outreach in education
to the public through workshops on invasive species identification
and control; posting information on their agency web site
about invasive plant ID and control. Employees attend regional
symposia sponsored by the SE EPPC and also the Natural Areas
Association. Seasonal staff and field staff take training
on herbicide application. The agency supports a LIP staff
position (Landowner Incentive Program) that has heavily favored
projects based on eradication of invasive plants on private
lands. The agency's preserve management staff spend ever increasing
hours each year combatting the spread of invasive plants on
the Commission’s 59 nature preserves and natural areas.
Kentucky
Exotic Pest Plant Council
The KY
EPPC encourages agency and private groups it works with to
adopt the codes that best fit their group. Outreach on ID
and control is done in conjunction with Master Gardener programs,
local extension offices, trainings for government agencies,
private non-profits and their volunteer corps. The KY EPPC
has worked with the legislature to sponsor and pass legislation
that will recognize the need for a comprehensive list of invasive
pest species and establish a board to formally address the
threat they pose, but this has not moved out of committee.
The KY EPPC has developed a list of invasives for distribution
as well as a booklet on how to ID and control invasive pest
plants.
Maine
Landscape and Nursery Association
Maryland
Nursery and Landscape Association
The Maryland
Nursery and Landscape Association, MNLA, has adopted the Voluntary
Codes of Conduct. The Invasive Species committee represents
the industry by attending and working as an active member
of the Maryland Invasive Species Council. The Nursery trade
magazine, Free State News, regularly publishes articles on
topics directly related to invasive species issues. Further,
the association has collaborated to present lectures and workshop
sessions (perhaps list dates or event) on issues surrounding
invasive species. In addition, a past president of the Maryland
Nursery and Landscape Association currently serves as Secretary
of the National Invasive Species Council Advisory Committee.
Maryland continues to look for and aggressively pursue public
awareness and education opportunities.
Massachusetts
Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc
Michigan
Invasive Plant Council
Michigan
Nursery and Landscape Association
Mid-Atlantic
Exotic Pest Plant Council
Minnesota
Nursery and Landscape Association
MNLA has
actively worked to educate their members about the invasive
plant issue through their “Invasives Education Initiative.”
Advocated by MNLA President Tim Power over the past 18 months,
this initiative has included a series of articles by a wide
range of green industry professionals, all with the goal of
raising the awareness among members about the seriousness
of the invasive plants issue.
Missouri
Botanical Garden (also implementing the Codes)
The Missouri
Botanical Garden revised its Living Collections Policy so
that all new accessions are screened prior to planting, ensuring
that no known invasives are introduced to the garden’s
grounds. As part of an ongoing process, known invasive species
are deaccessioned and removed from the grounds. Invasive species
that are commonly planted in the region are identified in
the Plantfinder database, where the general public is encouraged
to use native or non-invasive alternatives.
Montana
Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.
The Montana
Federation of Garden Clubs did pass a resolution in support
of this code several years ago. The group also has a dedicated
invasive plant chairman focusing efforts specifically on the
invasives issue throughout Montana.
The
National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils
National
Tropical Botanical Garden
National
Tropical Botanical Garden has reviewed its living collections
for potentially invasive species. As a result, NTBG removed:
a number of ferns in the genus Angiopteris (one species was
known to be invasive); Inga chartacea, which had invaded the
garden from an outside source; and (currently being removed)
Tetrastigma lanceolarium. Horticultural and groundskeeping
staff have received training on the characteristics of invasiveness
and are identifying other plants in the collections that are
aggressive growers or those which have seeds that spread easily
and rapidly. This will be an ongoing process.
NTBG’s Living Collections Policy requires that new acquisitions
are screened for invasiveness.
In its preserves, NTBG continues to combat invasive species
that were present prior to property acquisition or that have
spread from surrounding areas, and replace these with native
species. Education and outreach programs, and ecological restoration
projects conducted by NTBG, or in collaboration with other
organizations, agencies, nurseries, and private landowners,
are increasing public awareness in Hawaii as to the need to
eradicate invasives and replace with native species. Community
events, public radio spots and newspaper advertisements and
articles are proving quite successful.
New
Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association
The New
Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association adopted the codes
of conduct in December of 2003 along with their own list of
invasive plants which we discouraged all members to grow,
specify or plant. They have been extremely successful in limiting
the use of the plants on their "hit list" and were
the first entity, even before the regulatory agencies to do
so.
New
York State Nursery and Landscape Association
North
Carolina Botanical Garden (also implementing the Codes)
North
Carolina Native Plant Society
The North
Carolina Native Plant Society has a section on their website
that provides a three tiered listing of invasive exotic plants
in North Carolina. The problem of invasives was a major presentation
at the 2007 NC/SC Native Plant Symposium. The NCNPS gives
talks all over the state, each mentioning of the problem of
invasives, which usually leads to a lengthy discussion. At
their displays the group always includes invasive handouts
educating the public about the problem. A number of the organization's
members have participated/set up pest plant removal efforts.
NCNPS has also provided nursery
calling cards, patterned after MNPS's cards that allow
a patron to non-confrontationally let the owner know that
there is a concern.
Ohio
Nursery and Landscape Association
All of
the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association members follow
all laws on importation and quarantine of plant materials
across political boundaries. They work closely with the Ohio
Department of Agriculture, the state regulatory agency that
regulates and licenses nursery stock producers and retailers.
The Association is currently working with the Ohio Invasive
Plant Council in trying to determine an acceptable plant protocol
for the State of Ohio. The group also has content on their
consumer web site, www.BuckeyeGardening.com
regarding the invasives
issue.
Pennsylvania
Landscape and Nursery Association
Perennial
Plant Association
Southeast
Exotic Pest Plant Council
Southern
Region, International Plant Propagators Association
The Southern
Region of the International Plant Propagators Society encourages
members to be cognizant of invasive plants issues in their
nursery sales area and to address them responsibility. They
provide educational information at annual meetings to assist
in that effort. The group’s research priorities, which
guide the HRI research fund, encourage development of techniques
to remove invasive properties for plants.
Tampa
Bay Wholesale Growers Association
The Tampa
Bay Wholesale Growers was the first nursery association to
endorse the Codes of Conduct and has encouraged their members
to not produce plants that have been accepted as invasive
in the Florida market. Their Plant Availability Locator has
been amended to delete those items on the FNGLA/TBWG/FLEPPC
list of plants not to grow. The group works with local and
state groups to minimize impacts of mishandling plants which
may have invasive properties. TBWG also works with University
of Florida to provide research funds to address invasive issues
and we assist scientist working on genetics to remove invasive
characteristics.
Texas
Nursery and Landscape Association
University
of Washington (also implementing the Codes)
Washington
State Nursery & Landscape Association
The Washington
State Nursery & Landscape Association Board of Directors
endorsed the Codes of Conduct at their October, 2006 meeting.
The WSNLA has partnered with others to produce a booklet called
Garden Wise that identifies several garden plants that have
spread as volunteers and the booklet suggests non-invasive
substitutes for gardens. Through articles in its magazine,
the association has educated the professional community about
the impact invasive plants have on the wild lands.
Wellesley
College Botanic Gardens
Wellesley
College Botanic Gardens is in the process of establishing
a collections policy that deals explicitly with invasive species.
The program will regularly provide educational and outreach
programming about invasive species and native alternatives;
help to distribute the most current (2006) Guide to Invasive
Plants in Massachusetts; and remove or control invasive species
from the gardens. The institution does not distribute invasive
species or endorse their use in any way and is a testing site
for release of organisms for biological control of invasive
plants.
Wisconsin
Nursery and Landscape Association
Would
your organization like to endorse the codes?
Send information about your
organization and a brief explanation of the steps you have taken
to approve and abide by the codes. |
