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CNPS Statewide Invasive Species Committee News

by | Mar 31, 2025 | Dealing with Invasive Plants, News Items, Protect

Latest News from the CNPS Statewide Invasive Species Committee

June 17, 2025 – Caroline Christman

This meeting focused on invasive species outreach.
Liv O’Keeffe, CNPS Senior Director of Public Affairs, attended to hear ideas on how CNPS can improve education and outreach related to invasive species stewardship to protect native plant diversity (i.e., website presence, articles, media).  Approaches were suggested for different audiences:

  • General public, CNPS audience: Provide information for greater understanding of the importance of invasive species control and the value of herbicide use to protect native plant diversity.
  • Legislatures, city municipalities: Consideration of invasive species in vegetation management plans, fire reduction activities, landscaping for public infrastructure.
  • CNPS chapters and stewards:
    • Provide tools, such as species fact sheets, on invasive species and how to control.
    • Chapters can be a network of skilled botanists contributing to early detection of invasive species in their area.
  • Horticulture industry: What plants NOT to plant (Plant Right)
  • Main topics: prevention, Early Detection/Rapid Response, species fact sheets, herbicide as a tool, fire risk, rare plants, native plant diversity, habitat

Action Items:

  • Liv will set up a Google doc to identify audiences and goals. Interested CNPS members can contribute to this Google doc. I will share a link when it is available.
  • The Invasive Species Committee will form an Outreach Subcommittee to pursue further. Please let Caroline Martorano, CNPS Restoration Specialist (cmartorano@cnps.org) know if you are interested in joining this group.

 

March, 2025 – Caroline Christman

Announcements

  • Redbud CNPS Chapter (Placer and Nevada Counties) is working with CNPS State staff on surveying 80,000 acre Mosquito Fire scar for rare and special status species. There will be a training April 9th in Rocklin if anyone is interested in surveying for rare and special status species in the Mosquito Fire footprint. Contact Leslie Warren: redbudpres@gmail.com. See also the news item on page 3 of the El Dorado Chapter March-April 2024 newsletter.

Updated CNPS Policy
The Herbicide Policy was updated in 2024:
https://cc.cnps.org/policy/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/09/PRI-08a_Herbicide_policy_Update_9.7.24.pdf

All of these policies were updated in 2024 and can be found on the CNPS website:

  • PRI-96 Invasive Plants – 2024 Update
  • PRI-99 Intentional Introduction of Non-Native Species – 2024 Update
  • PRI-08a Herbicide Use – 2024 Update
  • PRI-08b Integrated Weed Management – 2024 Update

https://www.cnps.org/conservation/policies-2

Weed Control User Tool

This helpful website for choosing invasive control methods has moved to a new location:

https://weedcut-new.ipm.ucanr.edu/|

Calflora Uncommon Invasives Alert
With a Calflora account a user can set up email alerts for new observations of uncommon invasives.