| Alien Invasion: Plants on the Move | www.weedinvasion.org |
To view the pdf file, click here.
The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” certainly applies to weeds. However,
we often direct limited resources to fighting firmly established weed infestations instead of taking
steps to prevent the infestation. Managing an infestation is expensive, and eradication is nearly impossible. A pro-active approach to invasive weeds includes keeping existing infestations from spreading, while focusing on prevention and early detection.
There are many ways everyone can participate in preventing the spread of noxious weeds. Be proactive!
Get involved!
Once students are aware of the myriad problems associated with invasive plants after they become established, students are usually eager to modify their behavior or participate in projects that minimize
their own negative impacts. Students and most people care about the invasive weed problem—
once they understand the problem. One of the most serious obstacles to preventing plants from invading is education. Many people simply lack sufficient knowledge about invasive plants to act responsibly.
About the Weed Prevention Unit
This unit provides simple solutions that students and their families may adopt to help prevent the spread of invasive plants and minimize risk situations
for infestation. Lessons in this unit focus on the following topics:
 |
Preventing or minimizing the introduction of weed seeds into an area – Provides concrete
examples that show how we can prevent ourselves from becoming unwitting vectors for weed seeds through our socks, pets, bicycles, boots, and seed sources.
|
|
Minimizing disturbance of desirable vegetation
and revegetating disturbed sites with desirable plants around our homes and in our communities – When we actively manage for healthy communities of native and desirable
plants, weeds are not as likely to establish themselves.
|
|
Monitoring high-use and high-risk corridors – Roads, trails, and campgrounds are examples of high-use and high-risk corridors. These areas are likely to contribute to the spread of weeds. We all need to take responsibility for monitoring
invasive weeds in these high-risk areas.
|
|
Detecting infestations early – To prevent small infestations from becoming big problems, it is imperative to eradicate infestations.
|
Lessons
Elementary School
Dilemma Decisions – Allows students to practice problem solving by deciding on the best course of action to take when faced with realistic situations involving the spread of invasive weeds.
Middle School
Alien Prevention: Awareness to Action – Encourages
students to undertake an in-depth investigation
of how their actions influence the spread of weeds. Students learn to take responsibility for their actions to help prevent the spread of weeds.
Aliens in Your Socks – Introduces seed dispersal methods—wind, wildfire, and humans.
Alien Shopping Spree – Explores sources of seeds and encourages students to learn about their state laws governing agricultural seed impurities.
High School
An Ounce of Prevention – Emphasizes the importance
of preventing weed infestations rather than controlling an infestation. Students investigate methods weed managers use to prevent the spread of weeds.
This site created, maintained and hosted by Sonata, Inc.
(http://sonatainc.com)