<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>Hi Patricia and Norris,</div><div><br></div><div>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. </div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful to be part of the conversation.</div><div><br></div><div>All the best,</div><div>Rowena Zimmermann</div><div><br></div><div>--<br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136)">Rowena Zimmermann</span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136)">Director of Communications & Outreach</span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136)">Blue Ridge PRISM </span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="mailto:rowena@blueridgeprism.org" target="_blank" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">rowena@blueridgeprism.org</a><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="https://blueridgeprism.org/" target="_blank" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Blue Ridge PRISM</a><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"> </span><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136)">is a partnership for regional invasive species management in Virginia<font face="arial, sans-serif">.</font></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></span></div></div></div></div><div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Nov 22, 2022 at 6:09 PM <<a href="mailto:maipc-request@lists.maipc.org">maipc-request@lists.maipc.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><br>
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Today's Topics:<br>
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1. Re: Nomenclature (Muth, Norris (MUTH))<br>
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Message: 1<br>
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2022 23:07:53 +0000<br>
From: "Muth, Norris (MUTH)" <<a href="mailto:MUTH@juniata.edu" target="_blank">MUTH@juniata.edu</a>><br>
To: "<a href="mailto:MAIPC@Lists.maipc.org" target="_blank">MAIPC@Lists.maipc.org</a>" <<a href="mailto:maipc@lists.maipc.org" target="_blank">maipc@lists.maipc.org</a>><br>
Subject: Re: [MAIPC] Nomenclature<br>
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Patricia,<br>
I?m a big fan of all the good work you?re doing. Thanks for brining up this important and interesting subject.<br>
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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.<br>
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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.<br>
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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.<br>
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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.<br>
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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.<br>
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Norris<br>
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Norris Z. Muth, Ph.D. (he/him)<br>
Juniata College<br>
Zoom meeting<<a href="https://juniata.zoom.us/my/muthlab" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://juniata.zoom.us/my/muthlab</a>><br>
<a href="http://muthlab.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">muthlab.org</a><<a href="http://muthlab.org/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://muthlab.org/</a>><br>
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________________________________<br>
From: MAIPC <<a href="mailto:maipc-bounces@lists.maipc.org" target="_blank">maipc-bounces@lists.maipc.org</a>> on behalf of Greenberg, Patricia <<a href="mailto:Patricia.Greenberg@fairfaxcounty.gov" target="_blank">Patricia.Greenberg@fairfaxcounty.gov</a>><br>
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 10:15:58 AM<br>
To: <a href="mailto:MAIPC@Lists.maipc.org" target="_blank">MAIPC@Lists.maipc.org</a> <<a href="mailto:maipc@lists.maipc.org" target="_blank">maipc@lists.maipc.org</a>><br>
Subject: [MAIPC] Nomenclature<br>
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CAUTION: External Email<br>
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Hi,<br>
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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).<br>
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What's in a Name? Thoughtful Nomenclature Makes a Difference<br>
Presenter: Angela Gupta, University of Minnesota Extension<br>
Recorded: 10 November 2022<br>
Watch the video<<a href="https://video.vt.edu/media/VMN+CE+WebinarA+What%27s+In+a+NameF+Thoughtful+Nomenclature+Makes+a+Difference/1_r4imzpls" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://video.vt.edu/media/VMN+CE+WebinarA+What%27s+In+a+NameF+Thoughtful+Nomenclature+Makes+a+Difference/1_r4imzpls</a>> (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.)<br>
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I am planning to work with our botanist to find names for invasives that reference their location of origin, such as:<br>
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Oriental bittersweet<br>
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Japanese stiltgrass<br>
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Japanese/Chinese wisterias<br>
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Chinese Holly<br>
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Japanese Holly<br>
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And others<br>
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My question to you is if you or people you know have started these conversations and if so, what names are you using/changing?<br>
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Thank you,<br>
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Patricia Pearl Greenberg<br>
Ecologist II<br>
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Invasive Management Area (IMA) Program Manager<br>
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Natural Resource Branch<br>
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Fairfax County Park Authority<br>
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Office: 703-324-8673<br>
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<a href="mailto:patricia.greenberg@fairfaxcounty.gov" target="_blank">patricia.greenberg@fairfaxcounty.gov</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:patricia.greenberg@fairfaxcounty.gov" target="_blank">patricia.greenberg@fairfaxcounty.gov</a>><br>
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(She/Her/Hers)<br>
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ISA Certified Arborist, MA-6067A<br>
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ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified<br><br>
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