[MAIPC] Invasive plants

[N Virginia Woolridge]

Is anyone else dreaming of a national workforce that could be out removing invasive plants along our highways and in our forests? It could be a big help to the unemployed and could be done with social distancing - with plenty of UV to fight the virus…

And, maybe some deer hunters to reduce the over population and provide protein for hungry people.

Our landscape degradation is contributing to another, urgent epidemic that is not so visible - species extinction. The invasives often leaf out earlier than native plants and are not eaten by deer - hence invasive. Our birds require our native insects (not the introduced insects they don’t eat). And our insects require native plant material. The food web is in peril. Even nurseries sell 75% non-native plant material.

Scary business and so hard to observe while out in nature.

Ginger Woolridge