Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan Invasive Species Campaign Coordinator

Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan Invasive Species Campaign Coordinator

Oriental bittersweet Japanese honeysuckle Autumn olive

So Why are We Doing All of This Anyway?

We control invasive species because they are harming the native plants and animals we care so much about protecting. - The Nature Conservancy Global Invasive Species Initiative website

Why do we need to protect native plants from invasive species?

Japanese stiltgrass invading Fort Massac Flatwoods Nature Preserve

Species in Greatest Need of Conservation Wildlife Group Total # of SGNC % of group threatened by invasive species Mussels 29 52% Fishes 71 69% Herps 37 24% Birds 83 90% Mammals 20 20% Total 240 >63% (152 species)

Impacts Reduction in species richness and evenness Reduction in amount and quality of wildlife habitat Alteration of nutrient cycling...

Homogenization of the Landscape

Barrens Xeric Woodland Dry forest S -- N Buffalo clover Side oats grama Pineweed Widow s cross Prickly pear Dittany Lip fern Goat s rue False dandelion Bee Balm Cleft phlox Woodland sunflower Farkleberry Poverty grass Running lespedeza White trillium Bladdernut Christmas fern Spring beauty Toothwort Cove forest Bluffline Wet-Mesic forest Slough Wet forest Shooting star Alumroot Rockcress Bishop s cap Shield fern White trout lily Fragile fern Spice bush Pawpaw Waterleaf Buttonbush Bloodleaf Swamp privet River oats Swamp mallow False nettle Blue-eyed mary Wood reed Rivercane Gray s sedge

Barrens Xeric Woodland Dry forest S -- N Side oats grama Pineweed Prickly pear Farkleberry Dittany Lip fern False dandelion Bladdernut Cove forest Bluffline Wet-Mesic forest Wet forest Running lespedeza Toothwort Slough Alumroot Bishop s cap White trout lily Spice bush Pawpaw Buttonbush Bloodleaf River oats Blue-eyed mary Rivercane Gray s sedge

Barrens Xeric Woodland Dry forest S -- N Side oats grama Pineweed Prickly pear Farkleberry Running lespedeza Dittany Lip fern False dandelion Cove forest Bladdernut Toothwort Alumroot Bishop s cap Bluffline Wet-Mesic forest White trout lily Spice bush Pawpaw Buttonbush Bloodleaf River oats Slough Wet forest Blue-eyed mary Rivercane Gray s sedge

S -- N Bush honeysuckle Pineweed Bush honeysuckle Farkleberry Bush honeysuckle Bush honeysuckle Bush honeysuckle Dittany Bush honeysuckle Bush honeysuckle Alumroot Bush honeysuckle Invaded forest White trout lily Bush honeysuckle Bush honeysuckle Buttonbush Bush honeysuckle Bush honeysuckle Bush honeysuckl Rivercane Bush honeysuckl

How do we communicate that message?

3 don ts and 5 dos to a better life!

Don t be an idiot

Don t be too big of a geek

Invasion Ecology

Don t be The boy who cried Knotweed

High Priority Bush honeysuckle Autumn olive Japanese honeysuckle Japanese stiltgrass Kudzu Burning bush Spotted knapweed Sericea lespedeza Sawtooth oak European privet Purple loosestrife Smooth brome Reed canarygrass Phragmites Japanese knotweed Chinese yam Oriental bittersweet Beefsteak plant Bradford pear Japanese barberry Mile-a-minute Leafy spurge Tall fescue Bicolor lespedeza Multiflora rose Wisteria Wintercreeper Vinca English ivy Tree of heaven Mimosa Japanese chaff flower Princesstree Teasel Canada thistle Swallowwort Birdfoot trefoil Johnsongrass Musk thistle Medium Priority Dandelion Low Priority None Yarrow

Plant From Hell Yellow Star Thistle Tree of Heaven Giant Hogweed Tropical Soda Apple Cogongrass Thorn Apple Star of Bethlehem??? Japanese Knotweed Saltcedar Yarrow?? Golden Bamboo Multiflora Rose Garlic Mustard Kudzu Giant Reed Puncture Vine Spotted Knapweed Sericea Lespedeza

Do Speak with Passion

Do Speak the Truth

Do Tailor Your Message to Your Audience

Do give simple action steps

Do be Creative

One More Don t forget Show and Tell

Elevator Speech 2-minute or less synopsis