CIPWG

Please note the following items of interest from the Connecticut Invasive Plant 
Working Group (CIPWG).  Many of these items can be found on the CIPWG 
website at www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg

1. The Connecticut Invasive Plants Council recently published a statewide Invasive Plant List. The list includes invasive and potentially invasive aquatic and wetland plants, trees, shrubs, woody vines, harbaceous plants, grasses and grass-like plants. The list, which includes most of the plants currently on the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) invasive plant list, was developed per the directive of Section 2, Public Act No. 03-136, "An Act Concerning Invasive Plants". The Invasive Plants Council has been meeting on a regular basis since November and has been making great progress on a number of invasive plant issues. David Leff, Chairman of the invasive Plants Council, submitted a report to the Environment Committee that included the Invasive Plant List, invited speakers who have addressed the Council on invasive topics and concerns, a number of recommendations, and a status report of progress made by the Council in producing a ban list.

The Connecticut Invasive Plant List developed by the Council can be downloaded from the IPANE website at: http://invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane/CT_Invasive_Plant_List.htm

Minutes from Connecticut Invasive Plants Council meetings can be accessed via the CIPWG website at www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg or the IPANE website.

Two new bills on invasive plants (H.B. 5614, "An Act Concerning the Ban of Invasive Plants" and S.B. 547, "An Act Concerning Fines for Banned Invasive Plants") have been introduced by the Environment Committee during the current legislative session.

2. The next CIPWG general meeting will be scheduled during mid- to late April. An announcement will be sent out in early April with the meeting date and location.

3. Mark your calendars for the October 7, 2004 CIPWG Invasive Plant Symposium, "The Silent Invaders - Identification & Management of Invasive Plants" to be held at the University of Connecticut. Program and registration information will be available by late spring.

4. Many thanks to all of your who volunteered last month to help out at the CIPWG exhibit at the Connecticut Flower & Garden Show in Hartford. A special thank you to Betsy Corrigan for developing the new exhibit on invasive plants. The educational exhibit received a Connecticut Silver and Blue Award Ribbon.

5. WTIC's AM 1080 "Garden Talk with Len and Lisa" featured discussions on invasive plants on Saturday, March 20th. Guests on the radio show included Donna Ellis (University of Connecticut) and David Sutherland (The Nature Conservancy).

Submitted by Donna Ellis, CIPWG Co-Chair

Donna Ellis
Co-Chairperson, Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
(860) 486-6448
Email donna.ellis@uconn.edu
Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group web site www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg