Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Stopping invasive species before they start
by Dennis Fujimoto - The Garden Island
More than 200 Australian tree ferns have been destroyed by Kaua‘i Nursery & Landscaping.
Within a month of signing voluntary codes of conduct to help prevent invasive species, Lelan Nishek of KNL destroyed their entire inventory. That inventory was valued at more than $8,000, said Jacqueline Kozak of the Kaua‘i Invasive Species Committee in a press release.
“Heck, I even cut down the Australian tree ferns in my own yard,” Nishek said.
The Australian tree fern is considered one of the more aggressive species within the “discontinue” listing of a dozen species the Kaua‘i Landscaping Industry Council will be phasing out of their inventory.
Nishek is the president of KLIC, the second organization in the state to agree to voluntary codes of conduct designed so members of the green industry can participate in the fight against invasive species through self-regulation.
The KLIC agreement joins the O‘ahu Nursery Growers Association that earlier adopted the program developed by the Missouri Botanical Garden and The Nature Conservancy.
On Kaua‘i, the key to invasive species is prevention. KLIC codes include precautions on inter-island imports such as utilizing coqui frog-free certified businesses from the Big Island.
This joins the phasing out of existing stocks of invasive species within six months. ONGA agreed to discontinue six different species, but on Kaua‘i, KLIC has pledged to discontinue 12 plants.
These include the Australian tree fern, rubbervine, smokebush, butterfly bush, pampas grass, hiptage, fountain grass, glorybush, fiddlewood, kahili ginger, common St. John’s wort and Indian rhododendron.
“Some invasive species we have to live with, and others, we cannot. It is up to all of us to make that decision and then, get rid of them,” said Nishek, the owner of KNL and vice president for the Landscaping Council of Hawai‘i.
Kozak, who has been working with KLIC for over a year on various cooperative projects, made the Australian tree fern the top priority when drafting the codes.
“Kaua‘i has taken the hardest hit in the archipelago by the invasion of the aggressive fern as it has already jumped the garden fences and is popping up in the wildest of areas,” Kozak said.
Trae Menard of the Nature Conservancy said the Australian tree fern has already infiltrated the best remaining native Hawaiian forest.
“When we looked at the aerial survey data we had collected in the remote core of Kaua‘i’s native forest, we were absolutely shocked at how bad the invasion was. I’ve never seen a weed species that can spread as far and multiply and grow as fast as the Australian tree fern on Kaua‘i,” Menard said. “It’s obvious that if we don’t get on it now, it will take over our entire native forest very soon. It’s certainly the scariest weed I’ve ever seen.”
Kozak said the immediate destruction of Australian tree fern inventory by KNL is a bold statement.
“Every industry needs leaders, and I am so proud to see KLIC take a stand to help set the standard,” Kozak said.
One of the tools to aid the nursery industry in the process of self-regulation is the Weed Risk Assessment program operating at Lyon’s Arboretum on O‘ahu. The WRA is a valuable resource for nurseries when considering a new plant introduction to the islands.
“We have contributed to the invasive species problem, but it was because we just didn’t know,” Nishek said. “With the WRA, nurseries can find out.”
Additionally, Nishek said participating codes of conduct members get top priority for their screening submissions.
The final code of conduct is focused on public education in which KLIC will “encourage customers to use and writers to promote non-invasive plants.”
Nishek believes education is the best thing the industry can do to prevent invasive species, and the one-to-one contact in the nurseries offers the perfect opportunity.
KLIC and KISC leaders are planning to design a cooperative educational brochure on native and non-invasive alternatives to the “discontinue” list.
Nishek said native hapu‘u, or Hawaiian tree fern, now occupies the space formerly taken up by the destroyed Australian species.
“We see the problems invasive species can create,” Nishek said. “The codes are a step in the right direction. It will slow the invasion down. We can nip the invasive in the bud before it gets out of hand.”
For more information on the voluntary codes of conduct, contact Kozak at jackiekozak@hawaiiantel.net.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
Within a month of signing voluntary codes of conduct to help prevent invasive species, Lelan Nishek of KNL destroyed their entire inventory. That inventory was valued at more than $8,000, said Jacqueline Kozak of the Kaua‘i Invasive Species Committee in a press release.
“Heck, I even cut down the Australian tree ferns in my own yard,” Nishek said.
The Australian tree fern is considered one of the more aggressive species within the “discontinue” listing of a dozen species the Kaua‘i Landscaping Industry Council will be phasing out of their inventory.
Nishek is the president of KLIC, the second organization in the state to agree to voluntary codes of conduct designed so members of the green industry can participate in the fight against invasive species through self-regulation.
The KLIC agreement joins the O‘ahu Nursery Growers Association that earlier adopted the program developed by the Missouri Botanical Garden and The Nature Conservancy.
On Kaua‘i, the key to invasive species is prevention. KLIC codes include precautions on inter-island imports such as utilizing coqui frog-free certified businesses from the Big Island.
This joins the phasing out of existing stocks of invasive species within six months. ONGA agreed to discontinue six different species, but on Kaua‘i, KLIC has pledged to discontinue 12 plants.
These include the Australian tree fern, rubbervine, smokebush, butterfly bush, pampas grass, hiptage, fountain grass, glorybush, fiddlewood, kahili ginger, common St. John’s wort and Indian rhododendron.
“Some invasive species we have to live with, and others, we cannot. It is up to all of us to make that decision and then, get rid of them,” said Nishek, the owner of KNL and vice president for the Landscaping Council of Hawai‘i.
Kozak, who has been working with KLIC for over a year on various cooperative projects, made the Australian tree fern the top priority when drafting the codes.
“Kaua‘i has taken the hardest hit in the archipelago by the invasion of the aggressive fern as it has already jumped the garden fences and is popping up in the wildest of areas,” Kozak said.
Trae Menard of the Nature Conservancy said the Australian tree fern has already infiltrated the best remaining native Hawaiian forest.
“When we looked at the aerial survey data we had collected in the remote core of Kaua‘i’s native forest, we were absolutely shocked at how bad the invasion was. I’ve never seen a weed species that can spread as far and multiply and grow as fast as the Australian tree fern on Kaua‘i,” Menard said. “It’s obvious that if we don’t get on it now, it will take over our entire native forest very soon. It’s certainly the scariest weed I’ve ever seen.”
Kozak said the immediate destruction of Australian tree fern inventory by KNL is a bold statement.
“Every industry needs leaders, and I am so proud to see KLIC take a stand to help set the standard,” Kozak said.
One of the tools to aid the nursery industry in the process of self-regulation is the Weed Risk Assessment program operating at Lyon’s Arboretum on O‘ahu. The WRA is a valuable resource for nurseries when considering a new plant introduction to the islands.
“We have contributed to the invasive species problem, but it was because we just didn’t know,” Nishek said. “With the WRA, nurseries can find out.”
Additionally, Nishek said participating codes of conduct members get top priority for their screening submissions.
The final code of conduct is focused on public education in which KLIC will “encourage customers to use and writers to promote non-invasive plants.”
Nishek believes education is the best thing the industry can do to prevent invasive species, and the one-to-one contact in the nurseries offers the perfect opportunity.
KLIC and KISC leaders are planning to design a cooperative educational brochure on native and non-invasive alternatives to the “discontinue” list.
Nishek said native hapu‘u, or Hawaiian tree fern, now occupies the space formerly taken up by the destroyed Australian species.
“We see the problems invasive species can create,” Nishek said. “The codes are a step in the right direction. It will slow the invasion down. We can nip the invasive in the bud before it gets out of hand.”
For more information on the voluntary codes of conduct, contact Kozak at jackiekozak@hawaiiantel.net.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
 |
||
| Baker, triathlete suffers head trauma in fall |
Related headlines
- Protecting today for tomorrow
- Measuring an eroding sustainability
- Kaua i youth making a difference with Conservation Corps
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of kauaiworld.com.
candyrosh wrote on Jun 10, 2009 10:21 PM:
" “The burial treatment plan is very flawed,” Huff said. “It is a clear violation of our rights as indigenous people.”
“We will be staying until further notice and until the state of Hawai�i acknowledges the property was fraudulently sold to Brescia,” Huff said.
------------------------
candyrosh
--------------------
camper trailer--camper trailer "
“We will be staying until further notice and until the state of Hawai�i acknowledges the property was fraudulently sold to Brescia,” Huff said.
------------------------
candyrosh
--------------------
camper trailer--camper trailer "
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
RSS
victor2008 wrote on Oct 31, 2008 12:01 AM:
=====================================================
Victor
Addiction Rehabs "