[MAIPC] Invasive plant nomenclature

Sat Dec 3 08:38:17 PST 2022

I would like to thank Patricia for initiating this conversation. Her
concerns and questions are something that we at Blue Ridge PRISM have
discussed.  My colleague Rowena Zimmermann emphasized in an earlier reply
that, "... it is more than just plant nomenclature but also how we talk
about invasive plants in general that make up the bigger picture on how we
as a whole can be more mindful and respectful of how we use our words in
this field." I encourage you to go back and read her reply in this
discussion thread. While I do not necessarily agree with changing all plant
names referring to geographic origin (I think most of us agree this may
have unintended consequences), this is an important conversation for all of
us to have and keep in mind as we talk to the public about invasive species
and land management.

What we do at Blue Ridge PRISM is education, outreach, and communications
about invasive plants and their management. I had been involved in CWMA's
and dealing with invasive plants for a significant portion of my
conservation career never giving messaging or words a second thought;
however, since joining the PRISM team in 2020, I have considered these
questions a great deal. For example, one communications strategy that
struck me immediately focused around battles, waging war, weed warriors,
etc. This language made me deeply uncomfortable even though it was used in
a well-meaning way to ready the troops, fight the invaders, and grab
attention. It made me uncomfortable because there is so much violence in
our world. We are bombarded by it everyday. I am tired of violence and
perhaps others were turned off by it and tired of violent imagery as well. Now
I know that kind of messaging is militaristic message framing. This
observation started my deep concern and thinking about this subject.

Words matter and they matter in how we communicate about invasive plants
effectively.  This is not about being 'woke' and inferring that
conversations like these are 'nonsense' are not helpful (I felt this
suggestion effectively shut the conversation down) to all of us striving to
be better communicators, more welcoming and inclusive, and empowering. The
more people we can help be better stewards of their land, the better.
Negative words, ineffective messaging, and hurtful language get in the way
of that goal, so yes, we must ask these questions and be open to examining
the answers in a thoughtful way.

Two publications have been particularly helpful to me.

*“Testing Emphasis Message Frames and Metaphors on Social Media to Engage
Boaters to Learn about Preventing the Spread of Zebra Mussels”*

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/new-research-provides-guidance-for-effective-public-messaging-about-invasive-species-prevention/?utm_source=feedburnerNational+Invasive+Species+Information+Center+-+What%27s+New&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nisic+%28National+Invasive+Species+Information+Center+-+What%27s+New%29

https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s00267-021-01506-6?sharing_token=ovX2mpOZEvxd6J5kioABzPe4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY4ulKWjT5Zyp24UVdJdHmzGqwpXQmqlFj5BgXXV7ypmZoWFfq-f-sKrMlRnoOvyVy33Wj40uD4PyiuM6J-6L27XwJMRPXlDh1ahzcv87oWidryJ74RKkDyU1MF4Z2EXK04%3D

*Invasive Species Species Terminology: Standardizing for Stakeholder
Education *

https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1110&context=joe

Respectfully,
Elizabeth Mizell

_______________________________________
Elizabeth Anne Mizell
Executive Director | Blue Ridge PRISM
beth at blueridgeprism.org

Blue Ridge PRISM <https://blueridgeprism.org/> is a partnership for
regional invasive species management in Virginia.

On Sat, Dec 3, 2022 at 10:25 AM frazmo <frazmo at gmail.com> wrote:

> I will just note that I have seen some contrarian provocateurs attack
> invasives folks as "nativists" and sometimes refer to the Nazis who did in
> fact apply nativist ideology even to plants in some cases...  Time-honored
> tactic to demonize perceived foes as Nazis.
>
> So I think we want to be conscious that there are people who are employing
> such a narrative, and we don't want to play into their hands.
>
> That said, everything I see in this thread seems very reasonable.
>
> For what it's worth, I wrote about some of this here, back when:
>
>
> http://www.plantwhacker.com/2015/09/invasives-skeptics-and-their-nouveau.html?m=1
>
> Cheers Steve
>
> On Fri, Dec 2, 2022, 11:44 PM Rod Simmons <Rod.Simmons at alexandriava.gov>
> wrote:
>
>> Personally, I really don't see a problem here.  As M.L. Fernald once
>> said, botany is a "guileless profession".
>>
>> "Personally, I don’t want to reference being from Asia, Africa, South
>> America or anywhere else negatively and see nothing wrong with these
>> origins (I’m from South America)."  Agreed!  I think this whole thing is a
>> non-starter.  If folks' intentions are good - and they certainly are in our
>> collective family, in my experience - then we should leave it at that.
>>
>> We've got American Beech and European Beech.  American Elm, Siberian Elm,
>> and Chinese Elm.  American, Japanese, and English hollies.  American,
>> European, Chinese, and Japanese chestnuts.  Etc., etc.
>>
>> Trust me, they curse American goldenrods in the UK as much as they curse
>> American sumacs in Africa and as much as we curse Oriental Bittersweet
>> here.  They all curse the weed and human folly - not a country or people.
>> As Pogo famously said, "We have met the enemy and he is us".
>>
>> I've not heard once from anyone that they feel threatened or impugned by
>> a plant referenced in name from their country or place of origin.   To
>> do so would be to anthropomorphize nature!
>>
>> The very few times I've ever heard of such is through deliberately
>> provocative "journalism" from the New York Times many years ago by some cat
>> who was trying to push a non-existent race card for a story.
>>
>> Biology ain't woke.  We shouldn't fall victim to such nonsense.
>>
>> Disclaimer: The above is solely my opinions and not necessarily that of
>> the City of Alexandria.
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> on behalf of Greenberg,
>> Patricia <Patricia.Greenberg at fairfaxcounty.gov>
>> *Sent:* Monday, November 28, 2022 10:36 AM
>> *To:* Don Callihan <don_ihan at hotmail.com>; Rowena Zimmermann <
>> rowena at blueridgeprism.org>; maipc at lists.maipc.org <maipc at lists.maipc.org>
>> *Cc:* Debarros, Nelson <Nelson.DeBarros at fairfaxcounty.gov>
>> *Subject:* Re: [MAIPC] Invasive plant nomenclature
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Here is the link for the webinar on thoughtful nomenclature: Watch the
>> video<
>> https://video.vt.edu/media/VMN+CE+WebinarA+What%27s+In+a+NameF+Thoughtful+Nomenclature+Makes+a+Difference/1_r4imzpls
>> <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.vt.edu%2Fmedia%2FVMN%2BCE%2BWebinarA%2BWhat%2527s%2BIn%2Ba%2BNameF%2BThoughtful%2BNomenclature%2BMakes%2Ba%2BDifference%2F1_r4imzpls&data=05%7C01%7Crod.simmons%40alexandriava.gov%7C025eac6dac44414e13c308dad245f81a%7Cfeaa9b3143754aeeadccc76ad32a890b%7C0%7C0%7C638053495240133392%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WhjH%2FH6hkj%2BDHo1y8EYXuHp2xeBRMxQAV2ulzoqfhgM%3D&reserved=0>>
>> (Note: this version of the video has machine-generated captions. Caption
>> editing is in progress, and the new version with edited captions will be
>> posted here in approximately two weeks.)
>>
>> I appreciate the feedback and welcome more conversation on the topic.
>>
>>
>>
>> I think the key when having conversations with the public about invasive
>> species is to focus the topic on supporting wildlife by making space for
>> native species to thrive. Specifically emphasizing the fact that natives
>> provide more healthy food sources and habitat for songbirds, pollinators
>> and other wildlife helps keep the conversation positive and uplifting.
>> Unfortunately, the way we talk about managing invasive species and also
>> reference their origins may and has been construed to similar conversations
>> about immigrant peoples in a negative way. Personally, I don’t want to
>> reference being from Asia, Africa, South America or anywhere else
>> negatively and see nothing wrong with these origins (I’m from South
>> America). However, the conversations are happening and something needs to
>> be cleared up so we can have constructive conversations about creating
>> healthy wildlife habitat and avoid feeling guilt about talking about
>> killing invasive plants.
>>
>>
>>
>> I wonder if the issue with negative connotation dependent on where you
>> live (i.e. regions of higher immigrant populations vs. less immigrant
>> populations)? Is using the term “invasive” in the place of Asian, Oriental,
>> etc. enough or do we need a more useful common name? The work done in
>> Minnesota has started changing names using Asian or that reference the
>> plants’ origins.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>>
>>
>> *Patricia Pearl Greenberg*
>>
>> Invasive Management Area (IMA) Program Manager
>>
>> *Office: 703-324-8673*
>>
>> *(She/Her/Hers)*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> *On Behalf Of *Don Callihan
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 23, 2022 11:47 AM
>> *To:* Rowena Zimmermann <rowena at blueridgeprism.org>;
>> maipc at lists.maipc.org
>> *Subject:* Re: [MAIPC] Invasive plant nomenclature
>>
>>
>>
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> This is such an important conversation and I hope our community can come
>> to consensus on what to maintain and how to make changes where they are
>> needed.
>>
>> Is it possible for someone to share the Virginia Master Naturalists
>> webinar with any suggested attribution so that it can be used by others?
>>
>> Don
>>
>>
>>
>> *Don Callihan*
>>
>> Cockeysville, MD 21030
>>
>> 410-961-8132 (cellular)
>>
>> don_ihan at hotmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Rowena Zimmermann <rowena at blueridgeprism.org>
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 22, 2022 11:45 PM
>> *To:* maipc at lists.maipc.org
>> *Subject:* Re: [MAIPC] Invasive plant nomenclature
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Patricia and Norris,
>>
>>
>>
>> This has been an issue we are very aware of at Blue Ridge PRISM and last
>> year we made the decision to use the term "Asiatic Bittersweet" rather than
>> "Oriental Bittersweet." However, at this time we continue to use terms like
>> Japanese stiltgrass, Norway maple, and English ivy as they seem to be more
>> indicative of the origin of the species rather than any derogatory intent.
>> As an Asian woman, I've encountered language out there that makes me
>> uncomfortable (e.g. articles that refer to some invasive plants as "Asian
>> intruders" or "alien invaders") because the terms, although not intended in
>> this aspect, have been used against Asian (and other immigrant) people in
>> the past and continue to be used that way.  So, it is more than just plant
>> nomenclature but also how we talk about invasive plants in general that
>> make up the bigger picture on how we as a whole can be more mindful and
>> respectful of how we use our words in this field.
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm grateful to be part of the conversation.
>>
>>
>>
>> All the best,
>>
>> Rowena Zimmermann
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Rowena Zimmermann
>>
>> Director of Communications & Outreach
>>
>> Blue Ridge PRISM
>>
>> rowena at blueridgeprism.org
>>
>>
>>
>> Blue Ridge PRISM
>> <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblueridgeprism.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Crod.simmons%40alexandriava.gov%7C025eac6dac44414e13c308dad245f81a%7Cfeaa9b3143754aeeadccc76ad32a890b%7C0%7C0%7C638053495240133392%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=CxcS3qtD70%2B2ZlhDu1jMzJ2nsc9gja2uT0atvm6N%2FPo%3D&reserved=0>
>>  is a partnership for regional invasive species management in Virginia.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Nov 22, 2022 at 6:09 PM <maipc-request at lists.maipc.org> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Today's Topics:
>>
>>    1. Re: Nomenclature (Muth, Norris (MUTH))
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2022 23:07:53 +0000
>> From: "Muth, Norris (MUTH)" <MUTH at juniata.edu>
>> To: "MAIPC at Lists.maipc.org" <maipc at lists.maipc.org>
>> Subject: Re: [MAIPC] Nomenclature
>> Message-ID:
>>         <
>> MN2PR15MB362942627132B644883AD22DC80D9 at MN2PR15MB3629.namprd15.prod.outlook.com
>> >
>>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
>>
>> Patricia,
>> I?m a big fan of all the good work you?re doing. Thanks for brining up
>> this important and interesting subject.
>>
>> Lots of the words that figure into both common and scientific names are
>> derogatory and/or offensive. In most of the cases below I have mixed
>> feelings about searching for alternate common names (with the exception of
>> bittersweet which I have seen some preferring the term Asiatic
>> bittersweet). I know that in other contexts (e.g. COVID and flu, etc.) some
>> people have tried (and sometimes succeeded) to turn the names of regions
>> into something with negative connotations. In the recent case of the
>> coronavirus outbreak some people chose specifically to use terminology that
>> wasn?t common parlance to stoke these negative associations. Thankfully, I
>> don?t see the parallel between that abhorrent behavior and the botanical
>> examples below.
>>
>> To me, the names Japanese stiltgrass and the like merely refer to
>> locations that the species originate from (likely somewhat inaccurately ?
>> but being accurate with biological names is a different problem). We can
>> all agree that there?s nothing offensive about being from Japan, China,
>> Norway, or anywhere. What would definitely be troubling is if people were
>> pushing messages that these are anything other than purely descriptive when
>> using these terms. I admit that could certainly be possible, but I haven?t
>> yet seen that myself.
>>
>> What I certainly want to avoid is using offensive terminology to describe
>> plants (and anything else), and I think people are doing great work in
>> places to address that (e.g. spongy moth). I also want to avoid (and I know
>> very well that you aren?t suggesting this yourself ? but it could arise
>> from renaming efforts) the idea that being from any of these countries is a
>> bad thing.
>>
>> I also want to avoid unnecessary confusion around invasive species
>> listing and management, which could be an unfortunate byproduct of renaming
>> species that are still for sale. If someone can buy Norway maple, I want to
>> make sure I?m able to tell them what to avoid in the same
>> easy-to-understand terms.
>>
>> If there is more light to be shed on this discussion I would be grateful
>> to hear them. Thanks again for bringing up this interesting and important
>> issue.
>>
>> Norris
>>
>>
>> ?
>> Norris Z. Muth, Ph.D. (he/him)
>> Juniata College
>> Zoom meeting<https://juniata.zoom.us/my/muthlab
>> <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjuniata.zoom.us%2Fmy%2Fmuthlab&data=05%7C01%7Crod.simmons%40alexandriava.gov%7C025eac6dac44414e13c308dad245f81a%7Cfeaa9b3143754aeeadccc76ad32a890b%7C0%7C0%7C638053495240133392%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=FnfLrnaTMMemzEHNfn7eZ4VWB5khEXh5rLNcJ8Rg4AA%3D&reserved=0>
>> >
>> muthlab.org
>> <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmuthlab.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Crod.simmons%40alexandriava.gov%7C025eac6dac44414e13c308dad245f81a%7Cfeaa9b3143754aeeadccc76ad32a890b%7C0%7C0%7C638053495240133392%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3lgWdqkfMioYXxU2TpjpXD00UVHOshI8x9yctayftRg%3D&reserved=0>
>> <http://muthlab.org/
>> <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmuthlab.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Crod.simmons%40alexandriava.gov%7C025eac6dac44414e13c308dad245f81a%7Cfeaa9b3143754aeeadccc76ad32a890b%7C0%7C0%7C638053495240133392%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3lgWdqkfMioYXxU2TpjpXD00UVHOshI8x9yctayftRg%3D&reserved=0>
>> >
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> on behalf of Greenberg,
>> Patricia <Patricia.Greenberg at fairfaxcounty.gov>
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 10:15:58 AM
>> To: MAIPC at Lists.maipc.org <maipc at lists.maipc.org>
>> Subject: [MAIPC] Nomenclature
>>
>> CAUTION: External Email
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>>
>>
>> I?m continuing a conversation about the names of invasive species that
>> feel insensitive to use. Recently, Virginia Master Naturalists held a
>> webinar on this topic (which I haven?t watched yet).
>>
>>
>>
>> What's in a Name? Thoughtful Nomenclature Makes a Difference
>> Presenter: Angela Gupta, University of Minnesota Extension
>> Recorded: 10 November 2022
>> Watch the video<
>> https://video.vt.edu/media/VMN+CE+WebinarA+What%27s+In+a+NameF+Thoughtful+Nomenclature+Makes+a+Difference/1_r4imzpls
>> <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.vt.edu%2Fmedia%2FVMN%2BCE%2BWebinarA%2BWhat%2527s%2BIn%2Ba%2BNameF%2BThoughtful%2BNomenclature%2BMakes%2Ba%2BDifference%2F1_r4imzpls&data=05%7C01%7Crod.simmons%40alexandriava.gov%7C025eac6dac44414e13c308dad245f81a%7Cfeaa9b3143754aeeadccc76ad32a890b%7C0%7C0%7C638053495240133392%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WhjH%2FH6hkj%2BDHo1y8EYXuHp2xeBRMxQAV2ulzoqfhgM%3D&reserved=0>>
>> (Note: this version of the video has machine-generated captions. Caption
>> editing is in progress, and the new version with edited captions will be
>> posted here in approximately two weeks.)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I am planning to work with our botanist to find names for invasives that
>> reference their location of origin, such as:
>>
>> Oriental bittersweet
>>
>> Japanese stiltgrass
>>
>> Japanese/Chinese wisterias
>>
>> Chinese Holly
>>
>> Japanese Holly
>>
>> And others
>>
>>
>>
>> My question to you is if you or people you know have started these
>> conversations and if so, what names are you using/changing?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>>
>>
>> Patricia Pearl Greenberg
>> Ecologist II
>>
>> Invasive Management Area (IMA) Program Manager
>>
>> Natural Resource Branch
>>
>> Fairfax County Park Authority
>>
>> Office: 703-324-8673
>>
>> patricia.greenberg at fairfaxcounty.gov<mailto:
>> patricia.greenberg at fairfaxcounty.gov>
>>
>> (She/Her/Hers)
>>
>>
>>
>> ISA Certified Arborist, MA-6067A
>>
>> ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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