permaculture

[Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

At 09:32 AM 8/10/02 -0500, you wrote:
> My response is that, they themselves are exotic species to this continent
> and that if exotic plants are the number two cause of species extinction
> then surely the number one cause is exotic humans.  For starters, at least
> half of our agriculture consists of exotic plants including the soy bean
> which many vegetarians take some ethical refuge in for eating.

Peripheral IMO to the issue at hand.

> What should we address foremost, our behavior or the exotic plants that have
> exscape our grasp?

Both, don't fall into the either or trap.

> It also seems to me that, the areas hardest hit by all exotic species are
> disturbed edges, e.g. road ways, developments butted up to woodlands or
> prairies, man made lakes and waterways, etc.  It's quite possible, when
> looking through another set of lenses that, these exotic plants are the
> beginning of natural succession rather than the end of it.  I've heard first
> hand accounts of red maple, birch and oak coming up under tallow stands.

Simplistic look at the issue.  Of course disturbed areas sprout more of 
this stuff, and other pioneer species.  This does not change the fact that 
many exotics are invading non disturbed areas.   Both kinds of land are 
worth scouting for exotics and managing them.

> A frutivery study done in Louisiana also revealed that the tallow tree was
> on the top of the list as a food source for birds and more species of birds
> ate from tallow than most other trees.  How else would it get around so
> well?

We're being overrun with buck thorn, honeysuckle, and mulberry in this area 
with the same method of spread.  This is why managing these species is an 
on going project and quite likely a permanent situation.

> So what it comes down to is one's paradigm.  How do we regard and treat
> other life forms?  Do we wage a gene cleansing campaign against "exotic"
> plants and usr fossil fuels to push down trees, pull down vines and pay
> Monsanto for round-up to apply on Johnson and Bermuda grass?  Since the
> plants are here do they have the right to stay, as we have surely given
> ourselves that right, even though they may cause some species losses?

I'll do it!  I think of all the potential labor in prisons or folks on the 
dole and think we could knock back the worst of the vegetative pests in a 
decade.

>   Is
> Nature actually using these plants to guide our ecosystems towards greater
> stability and diversity?

Heck no!  I look at the damage being done to stable, valuable ecosystems 
and see a call to action, not some blessed green goddess taking care of 
business.  Honestly, these kinds of new agey pie in the sky proclamations 
are aggravating and dangerous IMO, this is fodder for the complacent and 
the cheep.  Managing exotics is part of paying the rent.

> I don't know about others on this list, but my arm gets heavier and heavier
> every time I raise it to cut a tree... any tree.
>
>
> Kirby Fry

Where's my brush ax?  Barbarian tree slayers unite!


Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM