California initiative seeks to stop new invasive plants

California Horticultural Invasives Prevention (Cal-HIP) seeks to halt the introduction of invasive plants that can damage local ecosystems and are expensive to control or remove once they become established. Cal-HIP members are devising methods to avoid producing, selling or promoting potentially invasive plants.

The members have invited the state’s horticulture industry to join them in a new PlantRight program. Cal-HIP has identified problem plants and non-invasive alternatives that will thrive in each region of California. The list of invasive plants is being publicized initially to the horticulture industry so businesses can make the transition to the alternatives. Eventually the educational program will be expanded to assist consumers in selecting non-invasive plants.

Invasive species are a leading threat to biodiversity,  second only to habitat destruction. Nationally, more than $35 billion is spent annually in eradication efforts and economic losses. In California, $87 million is spent annually to combat invasive plants and animals.

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For more: Terri Kempton, Sustainable Conservation, 98 Battery St., Suite 302, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 977-0380, Ext. 312; www.plantright.org.