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Home > Horticulture > Invasive Plants > Invasive Plants Steering Committee Minutes October 2007

Invasive Species Resolve Steering Committee Meeting Notes

October 18, 2007

Members in Attendance:

Ellen Blanchard, Lois Stack, Don Cameron, Nancy Sferra, Dale Pierson

Members Absent:

Mark Faunce

Staff Present:

Ann Gibbs

Meeting Notes:

Ann reviewed activities to date regarding the Resolve. A public meeting was held on 9/5/07. An update was presented on 10/10/07 to the Agriculture, Conservations and Forestry Committee. She also shared input from stakeholders.

The group reviewed the Resolve and raised questions regarding the intent. Ann explained her interpretation of the Resolve with the focus on developing criteria for possibly listing invasive plants. There was some concern that the groupl needed to develop a preliminary list of plants by the February deadline. Ann will check with the sponsor of the Resolve to determine his intent.

The group then reviewed the criteria from the New England states. It was decided to focus on the criteria developed by Massachusetts and teilor these to meet Maine's requirements. Points from that discussion included:

  • Prevention is key therefore how do we deal with potentially invasive plants not yet found in Maine.
  • Need to consider seed mixes and this potential pathway for invasives.
  • Hardiness zones are difficult to consider. The plant may be purchased in a zone where it is not invasive, but may be planted in a zone where it may be invasive.
  • Need to define certain terms like - high numbers, invasive species, likely and potential.
  • Must conseider both seed and vegetative propagation as a potential means for spread.
  • Should acknowledge human intervention as a means for moving these plants.
  • Include provinces as well as states when determining potentially invasive species outside Maine.

It was decided that we should have criteria at least for invasive plants already in Maine and those outside of Maine that might potentially be a problem. Ann will rework the MA criteria and incorporate the comments from the group.

The group agreed to bring to the table some plants to be considered test cases to run through the criteria for the next meeting.

Next meeting was set for November 16, 2007

Respectfully submitted by,
Ann Gibbs