In This Issue:

• Coastal Calendar
• FEATURE: A Perfect Moment for Mid-Atlantic Sea Change
• Waging War Against Invasive Species
• Statewide Grant Program Successfully Shores Up Marina Industry
• A Natural Tourism Alternative
• Preparing Future Science Teachers for Service

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The Jersey Shoreline

Waging War Against Invasive Species

by Louise Wootton, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Georgian Court University

(cont'd from page 1)
     New Jersey is currently far behind others in the Northeast in terms of invasive species policy and management efforts, but things are finally changing for the better. The New Jersey Invasive Species Council recently finished work on a strategic management plan for invasive species in New Jersey, and the recently created “Central Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team” has begun locating and treating invasive species in that area. However, there’s still have a lot of catching up to do. For example, none of the recommendations of the Invasive Species Council is yet supported by funding, and though it’s a great model, we need strike teams like the Central Jersey team throughout the state, not just in a single area. Unfortunately, given New Jersey’s current financial situation, and the economic situation nationwide, its unlikely that these changes are going to be implemented quickly, or as extensively as would be ideal, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do in the meantime.

Oriental Bitterweet (Celastrus orbiculata), which gardeners like for its fast growth and attractive fruit, is an aggressive invader.

     First of all, we can educate ourselves to recognize the most important invasive species in our area, or their symptoms (in the case of invasive insects and other disease-causing species). Residents and visitors to the state can then take special care not to spread these species, and remove them if they’re present on our properties. Simple things like cleaning hiking gear, bikes, fishing gear, boats and other outdoor equipment between trips to destinations abroad can prevent the spread of invasive species from one place to another. Similarly, plan to buy firewood at your destination campsite rather than transporting it, and all the creatures in it, from one place to another. Another “quick fix” is to plant only native plants in our yards, and to get rid of potentially invasive plants that are already present before birds or other forces carry their seeds elsewhere. If you have some spare time and energy, there are also many organizations that need volunteers to monitor new invasions as well as remove existing populations of invasive species, and restore the native habitats afterwards. Finally, we can all be spokespeople against invasive species and advocates for native ones within our own communities. Whether it’s talking with friends and neighbors about problem plants, or asking the owner of a local nursery to stock more native plants or to avoid selling a particularly noxious invasive, the more we know, and the more we communicate that to others, the better it will be for New Jersey’s amazing natural diversity.