Why OIPC Exists
The Ohio Invasive Plants Council is a coalition of agencies, organizations, and individuals throughout Ohio concerned about the introduction, spread, and control of invasive, non-native plants in Ohio's natural habitats. OIPC promotes public awareness of invasive species issues and encourages land management and research to detect invasive species and prevent new invasions into natural ecosystems. OIPC was formed as a 501(c)(3)not-for-profit organization in 2005 as a result of efforts in the late 1990's to improve awareness of the threats of invasive plants.
Are you looking for the OIPC List of Invasive Species? Just go HERE to see the OIPC assessment results.
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The OIPC Summer 2020 Newsletter is Now Available!
Download the newsletter HERE. All OIPC Newsletters are archived HERE. In this issue: - President's Corner - OIPC Revising its Assessment Protocol - Ohio's Aquatic Invasions - OIPC Seeking Applications for Research Grants - Beating Around the Bush: Caterpillar Herbivores on Invasive Honeysuckle |
SEPTEMBER PLANT of the MONTH: Microstegium vimineum - Japanese stiltgrass |
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Japanese stiltgrass, also know as Microstegium viminuem, is a rapidly spreading annual grass in Ohio. It is now found in a number of habitats, including forested floodplains, forest edges, stream banks, fields, trails, and ditches. To learn more about this very aggressive plant, you can read this article by OIPC President Jennifer Windus.
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OIPC Annual Meeting was a Success!
OIPC held its 2020 Annual Meeting on Friday, February 21st at a new facility, Eagleview Lodge, at the golf course at Blacklick Woods Metro Park. It is a beautiful facility overlooking the golf course with lots of windows. Close to 100 people attended the meeting. We are grateful for 12 sponsors who supported the meeting, including the Stream & Wetlands Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Davey Resource Group, The Wild Ones, The Conservationist, Five Rivers Metro Parks, Metroparks Toledo, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Listerman & Associates, Geauga County Master Gardeners, Friends of Crowell-Hilaka, and Bluestem Farm. Generous partners like this provide critical support to OIPC and will help to fund our activities in 2020. The meeting had 7 excellent speakers, including Theresa Culley, Eugene Braig, Mark Warman, Sarah Workman, Tziporah Serota, and Olivia Espinoza (see the program HERE). We also presented the OIPC 2019 Award of Distinction to Dr. David Brandenburg from The Dawes Arboretum (see our upcoming newsletter for an article about his accomplishments). We were pleased so many people attended this meeting!
UPDATE: 38 Invasive Plants Now Regulated by the ODA in Ohio
Tree-of-heaven
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The hearing for the ODA Invasive Plant Rules was held at the Ohio Department of Agriculture's office on November 30th. There were only 3 people providing testimony, Jennifer Windus (OIPC), Theresa Culley (OIPC and University of Cincinnati), and Anthony Sasson (The Nature Conservancy). All three were supportive of the rules, so there was no opposition. The JCARR hearing was held on December 11th and the rules were approved. The new rules went into effect on Jan. 7, 2018, so be sure to watch the ODA website for more details and the final wording of the rules, including the list of invasive plants. ODA will be forming their Invasive Plant Advisory Committee early in 2018.
On January 11, 2018, Jennifer Windus was interviewed by WOSU's Ann Fisher. Listen HERE. Theresa Culley was also interviewed on Cincinnati's WCPO. Watch HERE. |
Ways You or Your Organization Can Help
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Research Needs Identified by Assessment Team
OIPC is collaborating in an effort to assess invasive plants in Ohio. During that process the Assessment Team has encountered a number of important information gaps. Filling these gaps will lead to a better understanding of the invasive potential of particular species. We encourage researchers to help us address these issues. See the Help Answer Research Questions page for detailed questions.