Free New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.)  [Printer-friendly version]
January 12, 2006

ENVIRONMENTALISTS WANT ALTERNATIVES FOR KILLING WEEDS

[Rachel's introduction: In New Mexico, citizens are telling the U.S.
Forest Service to examine the alternatives for controlling invasive
species on 7,300 acres of national forest land.]

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) -- A plan by the U.S. Forest Service to use
herbicides and other methods to kill weeds in the Santa Fe and Carson
national forests has drawn fire from a coalition of environmentalists.

The agency's Invasive Plant Control Project would incorporate
herbicides as well as nontoxic methods to target more than 7,300 acres
of nonnative plant populations over the next decade.

Environmentalists acknowledge the importance of controlling weeds that
push out native plants, increase erosion and degrade wildlife habitat,
but they say herbicides pose health risks.

"We all agree that invasive species are not great for the ecosystem
and may need to be treated," said Joanie Berde, volunteer coordinator
for Carson Forest Watch. "But there's so many alternatives that don't
involve herbicide use."

Berde's group is one of several that filed an administrative appeal
with the Forest Service on Monday. The coalition wants the agency to
focus on alternatives that don't rely on herbicides.

The Forest Service approved its Invasive Plant Control Project in
September after an environmental review and public comment. The agency
plans to treat between 300 and 800 acres each year, beginning as early
as this spring. There will be no aerial spraying.

There are no immediate plans to use herbicides in municipal
watersheds. Project planner Sandy Hurlocker said the plan simply gives
the agency an option to use herbicides with municipal approval when
other methods are deemed ineffective.

Officials say the herbicides are regulated by the Environmental
Protection Agency, would be carefully applied and would pose little
threat to humans and wildlife.

Information from: Albuquerque Journal January 12, 2006