The endangered Least Bell’s Vireo is one of many native species negatively affected by giant reed. Photo credit: Flickr, Steve Maslowski/USFWS

The EPA is currently in the final stages of approving a very problematic rule that would actually provide incentives for companies to plant certain invasive species. The rule would allow a plant called Arundo donax (also known as Giant Reed, Colorado River Reed, and Giant Cane), a known invasive species, to qualify as an “advanced biofuel feedstock” under the Renewable Fuel Standard. This means that producers would get money from the federal government for growing giant reed as a source to create biofuel.

Growing plants for energy can potentially be a cleaner and less harmful alternative to fossil fuels, but only if it is done responsibly. Planting a species that has been listed as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species is not responsible.

What would the impacts of this rule be?

This USDA map shows the predicted distribution of Arundo donax. As you can see, much of the U.S. is suitable for the species. Credit: USDA APHIS.

“If a species with such a well-documented track record of escape and negative impacts can be considered, then apparently no plant, no matter how invasive, will be off the table for future consideration. It certainly would set a terrible precedent.”

State and local groups across the country are particularly worried that if giant reed is planted on a large scale for biofuels, the results could be devastating:

“Should Arundo donax reach the Columbia River, an environmental disaster of unimaginable proportions would follow.” - The Native Plant Society of Oregon

“The large planting of invasive giant reed presents an incalculable risk to the people and ecosystems of Alabama. The potential for irreparable damage to the state’s natural ecosystems, which provide vital ecological services to the present and future citizens of Alabama, is great.” – The Alabama Invasive Plant Council

Read a letter signed by 100 local, state, regional, and national groups from across the country opposing the proposed rule.

What is Giant Reed?

Giant reed (Arundo donax), also known as giant cane, is a large, fast-growing grass that is native to India and can grow up to 30 feet tall. Because it grows very quickly and can get quite large, there has been a lot of interest in using giant reed to create biofuels, and companies in Oregon, Florida, and North Carolina have already planting it for this purpose. Unfortunately, the very same characteristics that make giant reed attractive as a biofuel crop make it a very highly invasive species.

Giant reed has been placed on noxious weed lists in Texas, California, Colorado, and Nevada and has been noted as either invasive or a serious risk in New Mexico, Alabama, and South Carolina. USDA, in their June 2012 weed risk assessment, concluded with very high certainty that giant reed is a high risk species, noting that it is a “highly invasive grass” and a “serious environmental weed.”

Giant reed has invaded vast areas along rivers in Texas, as seen in this aerial view near Big Bend National Park. Credit: John Goolsby, USDA

Once giant reed has taken hold, control is difficult and costly. In California, costs range between $5,000 and $17,000 per acre to eradicate the weed. Other estimates put that cost as high as $25,000 per acre.

Given the clear risks associated with growing giant reed for energy, the last thing we need is to be spending taxpayer-funded money encouraging producers to plant this stuff. There is still time for EPA to hit pause and fix the rule before finalizing it. If they do not, that $120 billion figure will only rise further.

While some may say that Pharaoh brought his troubles on himself, we actually did introduce some of these pests ourselves, albeit with the best of intentions, only to suffer the havoc they now wreak.  Fortunately, in several cases there are also actions we can take to eliminate them before things get out of hand.

The vibration of boats' motors spurs asian carp to jump out of the water. (credit: USFWS)

Ten of Our Very Own Plagues:

1. Asian Carp

   Fast-growing, aggressive fish that are outcompeting native species for food and habitat in much of the Midwest, where they have no natural predators. They are on the verge of invading the Great Lakes, which would have devastating consequences for fish populations, spawning habitats, anglers, boaters and the biggest freshwater ecosystem in the world. Aside from making them into gefilte fish, here’s how you can help.

2. Cane Toads

   Originally introduced to fight crop pests, at which they were unsuccessful, when provoked cane toads secrete a toxin that is dangerous to pets and native wildlife, including their predators. With each female capable of producing 30,000 eggs in one sitting, they breed like warty, poisonous rabbits. It’s like that time Bart lost his frog in Australia.

3. Starlings

   Famously introduced in 1890 as part of the romantic notion to bring all birds mentioned by the Bard to New York City, starlings spread and thrived. Now, despite their beautifully mesmerizing murmurations, starlings are causing $800 million in agricultural damage per year and millions more in damage to the airline industry.

4. Kudzu

   

   The Vine that Ate this House (Credit: Natalie Maynor)

   Now known as the “Vine that Ate the South,” it was originally cultivated to feed livestock and prevent soil erosion. But it grows too well, taking over houses, choking out sunlight, and destroying other forest species. Kudzu, along with several other invasives like Garlic Mustard and Asian carp, is edible. Do your part, click for recipes.

5. Giant reed

   Currently used as a bioenergy crop in Florida and Oregon and being considered for use in North Carolina, despite its listing as a noxious weed in a number of states. It also invades important riparian ecosystems and displaces native species across the southern half of the country. In California, giant reed caused extensive damage to ecosystems and human infrastructure in many coastal and inland watersheds. More than $70 million has been spent over the past 15 years to control this invasive weed. Check out NWF’s new report on avoiding the use of invasives for bioenergy sources.

6. Zebra mussels

   

   Zebra mussels growing on zebra mussels (Credit: USFWS)

   By devastating the food chain, reducing fish populations, chocking water pipes and infrastructure and encrusting fishing equipment, boats and docks, these mussels have revealed the danger of biologically unsafe shipping practices. Learn more about NWF’s work to stop untreated ballast water from pouring non-native aquatic species into the Great Lakes.

7. Stinkbugs

   They’re stinky. They’re taking over. Enough said.

8. Emerald Ash Borer

   Since 2002 this pest has killed tens of millions of ash trees in the country. After devastating the tree-lined streets of Detroit, they are now munching their way across 15 states, eliminating habitat and creating fire hazards that imperil wildlife, humans and property.

9. Burmese python

   

   Burmese Python, (credit: South Florida Water Management District)

   
   Snakes on the Plain! Everglades National Park is infested with nearly 100,000 of these gargantuan snakes, many descended from abandoned pets, and they’re making their way up the coast, as far north as Virginia. These pythons were recently listed as “injurious” by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which means FWS can prohibit their importation to the US and their use in interstate commerce. Given they are capable of eating goats, crocodiles, pets and livestock, and the threat they pose to birds, I’d say “injurious” is putting it lightly.

10. Climate Change

    Ok, so it’s not a plant but it’s definitely plaguing us with increased extreme weather events, milder winters, drought, hail the size of snowballs, record-breaking floods, tornadoes in unanticipated regions and much more.  Unfortunately, it’s also giving many of these species a leg (or a leaf) up towards making themselves right at home in America. According to Harvard researchers, climate change is providing welcome conditions for invasive plants to dominate the landscape, which will only add to the burden facing farmers, ranchers, gardeners, and all Americans.  You can help by taking action to fight carbon pollution from power plants.

Want to learn more about how to set Americans free from these invasive plagues? Check out NWF’s work to stop invasive species and how you can help.

What invasive species do you see in your area? How are they impacting your local environment? Let us know, down below.

USDA: Bean plastapid nymphs on kudzu leaf. Photo by Yanzhuo Zhang.

Kudzu, once hailed as a “miracle vine,” is now a thorn in the side of folks throughout the Southeast. Once used by American farmers as a means to stop soil erosion, this pesky invasive species spread far beyond its intended boundaries. The foreign plant made itself at home in the U.S., wrapping around anything that stays still and smothering fields, old buildings and native plants in its leafy green clutches. Instead of a miracle vine, some folks now call Kudzu the “vine that ate the South.” And it’s far from finished.

The Asian plant is just one obnoxious and notorious character that highlights the trouble with invasive species. The large amount of kudzu in the Southeast is also attracting lots of annoying kudzu stink bugs with zero respect for national boundaries or personal space. Like brown marmorated stink bugs, the kudzu-loving pests are fond of invading homes, nibbling their way through crop fields and gardens and spreading general creepiness in their wake. As the saying goes, game recognizes game, and one invasive species can certainly play off of another.

USDA: Adult Kudzu Stink Bug. Photo by Joe Eger.

A new National Wildlife Federation report, Growing Risk: Addressing the Invasive Potential of Bioenergy Feedstocks, warns of the dangers of introducing non-native and genetically modified species into local ecosystems. Researchers recommend precaution and commonsense policy solutions so that good intentions don’t grow bad and out of control like kudzu. The qualities that make some foreign plants so attractive for agriculture and bioenergy production are the very characteristics that make them challenging to control once they escape and take root in our gardens, fields and backyards. Furthermore, mitigating and eliminating the impact of these invasive species can take a toll on native wildlife and taxpayers’ wallets.

Click here to find out more about the work the National Wildlife Federation is doing to stop the spread of invasive species and protect native wildlife. You can also read more about one man’s battle with stink bugs and their massive six-legged east coast invasion.

Growing Risk for Taxpayers and Wildlife

April 4 – Good biofuel crops can make great invasive species. That’s one of the findings of a new report released today by the National Wildlife Federation. Growing Risk: Addressing the Invasive Potential of Bioenergy Feedstocks explores the challenges and policy solutions surrounding the use of non-native and potentially invasive bioenergy crops. Numerous non-native and genetically modified species are already being considered for use as biomass feedstocks. Growing these plants may appear to be a great source of homegrown renewable energy, but without proper precaution, producers run the risk of unleashing the next big invasive species catastrophe that could devastate native ecosystems, deplete scarce water resources and require significant resources to control.

“Invasive species cost taxpayers billions of dollars every year and put ecosystems and wildlife at risk,” said Aviva Glaser, legislative representative for agriculture policy for the National Wildlife Federation. “As bioenergy development moves forward, it is critical that feedstocks are chosen with care. Proper caution must be taken to minimize the risk of invasion and ensure that the next generation of bioenergy does not fuel the next invasive species problem.”

Award-Winning Calendar Portrays NWF’s Commitment to Conservation

April 2 – National Wildlife Federation has been named a Silver Award winner by the Calendar Marketing Association as part of its 2012 National and World Calendar Awards competition. National Wildlife Federation’s 2011-2012 calendar, Treasures of Wildlife, won in the Best Animal/Wildlife Photography category. The calendar features spectacular photos and fascinating facts about wildlife.

“We share this success with our members, who have supported our efforts since 1936,” said Anne Senft, National Wildlife Federation vice president of membership and online marketing. “Treasures of Wildlife not only features beautiful images of wildlife, it also highlights NWF’s promise to our members that we work 365 days a year to protect America’s wildlife and the wild places on which they depend.”

And here are highlights from NWF in the News:

• The Los Angeles Times: Climate change vs Easter bunnies
• High Country News: Biofuel crops invade gas tanks habitat
• Agri-Pulse (Audio): Wildlife group sounds alarm about invasive potential of bioenergy feedstocks
• Public News Service (FL): Report Asks: Biofuel Crop or Invasive Weed?
• Fly, Rod and Reel: Federal Plan to Automate and Expedite Public Lands Energy Development Draws Mixed Response

For more, visit www.nwf.org/News