From APWG list:

Weed Science Society of America
"Weeds Won't Wait: Don't Hesitate"

Press Released

For Immediate Release
August 14, 2007

Contact: Kimberly Mulcahy, 630.393.0732, kimberly@...


WILDFIRES: FUELING THE ARGUMENT FOR INCREASED INVASIVE WEED CONTROL

(LAWRENCE, Kan.) - Invasive plants-weeds-sure have been busy. They
systematically infiltrate millions of acres every year, selfishly soak
up
precious water supplies, forever alter wildlife habitats and quietly
invade our backyards. In fact, the economic impact of invasive plants
and
weeds in the U.S. has been estimated at $34.7 billion annually,
according
to a recent Cornell University report.

Now, add increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires to the
list
of the destructive talents of these insidious invaders.

How Do They Do It?
In the western states, where wildfires are most prevalent, the
encroachment of resilient, invasive plants has paved the way for a
succession of rampant rangeland and desert wildfires. Two culprits
that
play major roles in stoking the flames of these reoccurring western
wildfires are Cheatgrass and Red Brome.

Where the dry, feathery foliage of the winter annual Cheatgrass is
abundant, wildfires flare up more often. This invasive plant acts like

highly flammable kindling, fueling the ignition of rangeland fires to a

roaring blaze. And, parts of Arizona's picturesque Sonoran desert are
actually bursting into flames with alarming frequency thanks to the
spread
of Red Brome, another non-native annual grass. Red Brome is a prime
source of fires engulfing native vegetation, such as Palo Verde trees
and
various cacti, hallmarks of this desert habitat.

"These invasive plants can take over natural areas that once were home
to
a diverse variety of plant species," says Steven A. Dewey, Ph.D.,
Extension Invasive Weed Specialist at Utah State University and
wildfire
expert. "The spread of invasive plants such as Cheatgrass and Red Brome

across a western landscape can lead to more expansive and more frequent

fires. Charred lands in turn are left wide open for an unchallenged
invasion of annual, invasive plant species. And so the cycle
continues,
intensifying as it goes."

Dr. Dewey recently was named Weed Science Subject Matter Liaison to the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Weed Science Society of
America. In this newly created position, he will be instrumental in
providing scientific information on invasive weed management to the
EPA,
including methods to lessen the role of invasive weeds in wildfires.

The Effects Of Wildfires Can Linger
- Fire-fueling invasive plants actually have increased the occurrence
of
wild fires in some areas from a natural frequency of every 60 to 100
years
to an alarming 3 to 5 years.
- Recurring fires can have a devastating effect on native plant species

that are critical components of wildlife habitats, endangering animal
species that rely on those habitats.
- In many areas, the increased severity and frequency of wildfires
driven
by invasive plants are eliminating the natural assortment of native
plant
species. Large areas of land are becoming more homogenous-home to
merely
a few plant species. "One of the advantages of a diverse plant
population
is the different ways in which various plant species react to fire,"
says
Dr. Dewey. "Those species that are not as combustible, such as
perennial
bunch grasses and forbs, can act as buffers, helping to contain
naturally
occurring wildfires so they don't spread out of control."

How Invasive Plants Take Over
- Overgrazing or other human-caused disturbance of rangelands leaves
bare
areas that are quickly filled in by invasive plants.
- Invasive plants produce countless seeds that travel by wind, animals
or
people, eventually settling in bare areas where they quickly establish
themselves and spread.
- Because of their fast growing cycles, invasive annual plants mature
and
then wither long before winter, usually at the height of summer heat,
posing major wildfire threats.
- Suppressing small-scale fires that nature commonly uses to remove
dried,
dead plants can lead to the buildup of excessive dead plant material
that
fuels more intense wildfires.
- Variances in weather patterns, either severe drought or excessive
rainfall, which affect natural plant growth patterns, can lead to an
invasive plant population explosion.

What Can Be Done?
"The integration of herbicides to control invasive plants, proper
grazing
management, controlled burns to remove plant debris build-up and
revegetating degraded sites with native plants all can lead to
rejuvenated
rangeland ecosystems," says Dr. Dewey. "Healthy, native landscapes are

better able to resist invasion of non-native plants, thus restoring a
more
natural, prolonged wildfire frequency."

The more we learn about the far-reaching effects of invasive plants and

weeds, the more able we are to work together to conquer the problems
they
cause. Contact your state's department of natural resources to find
out
more about invasive species in your area or log on to www.wssa.net.

For more information about invasive weeds and wildfires, contact Lee
VanWychen, Director of Science Policy for the Weed Science Society of
America, at (202) 408-5388.

About the Weed Science Society of America
The Weed Science Society of America, a non-profit professional society,

was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of
knowledge
concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Weed Science

Society of America, promotes research, education and extension outreach

activities related to weeds; provides science-based information to the
public and policy makers; and fosters awareness of weeds and their
impacts
on managed and natural ecosystems. For more information, visit
www.wssa.net.