Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual

Introduction

The Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual is a product of the SE-EPPC publications subcommittee. Its origin derives from the TN-IPC Invasive Plant Vegetation Management Manual that was published in 1996 before SE-EPPC's inception. The TN-IPC manual was a collaborative effort between the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and TN-IPC. TN-IPC has generously provided SE-EPPC use of the original manual to build on, and create the SE-EPPC manual.

The new SE-EPPC version adds 10 invasive species to the TN-IPC manual, which began with 20 species. The format is improved by adding slide images for all 30 species, the TN-IPC manual only included line drawings. There are a few line drawings and images being added at the time this was first put on the web. The 30 species included in the manual are widespread throughout the temperate Southeast region, and do not include problem species of South Florida.

The SE-EPPC manual was funded by generous donations from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Asheville Regional Office and the North Carolina Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Presently the manual is only available as an electronic manual on the SE-EPPC webpage but can be downloaded and printed in its entirety or by species. The manual provides life history information on each species and management and control recommendations as well as line drawings and images.

Because SE-EPPC's focus is on the impact of invasive exotic species on native communities, the prescriptions in this manual are designed so they can be implemented in ecologically sensitive areas with minimum impact to non-target species. The herbicide treatments in this manual recommend chemicals that are not soil active and biodegrade in the environment. The purpose of this manual is to provide needed information to conduct safe management practices to reduce or eliminate some of our worst invasive plants in our natural areas, parks, and even our backyards. It is also meant to raise the awareness about the threat that invasive exotic plants pose to our natural heritage in the Southeast.

Brian Bowen, President
Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council

6 - 2003