U.S. Forest Service Botanist Jan Schultz: Fighting Invasive Weeds in Midwest/Restoring Native Plants
Channel: ZaagkiiTV
Date: 2012-11-06

(Marquette, MI) -- The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is working with youth, Native American tribes and many groups to fight invasive plants -- and restore indigenous vegetation that is best for pollinators like bees and butterflies

Invasive (non-native) plants are choking out natural flora and fauna -- and are one of many reasons that one-third of pollinators have disappeared

On a cold wind-driven rainy fall day in Michigan's Upper Peninsula just blocks from the roaring waves of Lake Superior, a conference was held for the many federal, state and local agencies and organizations that are on the front line of the fight to eradicate all forms of invasive species.

The menace is as tricky as it is widespread and costly to stop -- invasive species ride on the wind, float on the water and find all forms of human transportation to creep their way across the Midwest -- and the entire country.

From stubborn non-native weeds that travel with and on unsuspecting tourists to aquatic life like Zebra mussels that hitch a ride on ore boats and ocean freighters.

USFS Eastern Region Botanist Jan Schultz was the keynote speaker on Tues., Oct. 16, 2012 at the Rapid Response Invasive Plant Intervention Team of the U.P.! (RIPP IT UP!) Third Annual Northern Great Lakes Conference named "A United Front against Invasive Species" in the Marquette Masonic Lodge and Center.

The Marquette, Michigan presentation titled "An Overview of Just How Far We've Come in the Battle against Invasive Species" was watched by many USFS employees and several groups assisting in the fight to stop invasive non-native weeds that are choking out all forms of wildlife.

Schultz is the USFS Non-native Invasive Species and Special Forest Products Program Leader stationed in Milwaukee, WI.

The hosts of the conference are one of the main northern Michigan groups fighting Invasives -- and the group has a catching acronym for their long name: RIPP IT UP stands for Rapid Response Invasive Plant Intervention Team of the U.P. 

Rapid Response Invasive Plant Intervention Team of the U.P. (RIPP IT UP)
www.abc10up.com/invasive-plants-conference

Darcy Rutkowski
906-225-0215
darcy.rutkowski@uprcd.org

Stephanie Blumer
906-643-7900 ext. 155
sblumer@fs.fed.us

Tesha Zimmerman
906-632-5575
tzimmerman@saulttribe.net

Lynn Steiner
Wild Rivers Invasive Species Coordinator 
Dickinson Conservation District 
102 North Hooper St. 
Kingsford, MI
49802-4548

906-239-2560
wildriverscwma@gmail.com

2011 Accomplishments Fighting Invasive Species USFS Eastern Region 9 Non-Native Invasive Species (NNIS) Report
www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/invasives/documents/FY2011EasternRegionNNISReport.pdf
www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5387670.pdf

CWMA Map
www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/cwma

Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) Cookbook: Recipe for Success
www.mipn.org/CWMACookbook2011.pdf

USFS
www.fs.fed.us
www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers

Larry Stritch
USDA USFS National Botanist
Washington, D.C.
202-205-1279
lstritch@fs.fed.us

Jan Schultz, USFS
E. Region 9 Botanist
Milwaukee, WI
414-297-1189
jschultz@fs.fed.us

Larry Heady
R9 Tribal Relations Specialist
414-297-3777
lheady@fs.fed.us

Stephanie Blumer
R9 Botanist
906-643-7900 Ext. 155
sblumer@fs.fed.us

Hiawatha National Forest
Gladstone, MI
906-428-5800
HiawathaNF@fs.fed.us
www.fs.usda.gov/hiawatha

Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest
Northwoods CWMA
www.northwoodscwma.org

Matt Bushman, district botanist
715-373-3667
Darienne McNamara, CWMA Coordinator
darienne.mcnamara@gmail.com

Hiawatha National Forest
Central Upper Peninsula CWMA
Chippewa East Mackinac Conservation District
www.clmcd.org/weedmanagement_2.asp
www.chipmackconservation.org
www.upicweeds.org

Nick Cassel, Coordinator
Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
906-635-1278 (wk)
906-430-0040 (cell)
nick.cassel@macd.org

Ottawa National Forest
Western Peninsula Invasive Coalition (WePic)
Gogebic County, MI/Iron County, WI
www.invasiveplantsmi.org/hogweed/index.html
www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/forest_management/botany/cwpma_site

Ian Shackleford
USFS Botanist
Noxious Weed Coordinator
Ironwood, MI
896-932-1330
ishackleford@fs.fed.us

Wild Rivers Invasive Species Coalition
www.wrisc.org

Ann Hruska
Administrator/Proj. Mgr.
Dickinson Conservation District
Kingsford, MI
906-774-8441
wildriverscwma@gmail.com
ann.hruska@mi.nacdnet.net

Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area
www.kisma.org

Janet Marr, Coordinator
Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District
Houghton, MI
906-337-5529
906-482-0214
jkmarr@mtu.edu
sue.haralson@mi.nacdnet.net

Huron Manistee National Forest
Northwest Michigan CWMA
www.garlic-mustard.org

Carolyn Henne, USFS
231-723-2211
Robert Makowski, USFS
231-775-5023

Healing music by "Obadiah and the Grand Extreme"

Obadiah Metivier, Kalimba
Dan Schaefer, Drums and Chimes
Kaity Keranen, Rain Stick
Jen Silverston, shakers, clave, vocals/chanting (wearing tree)

Middle Ear Media
Obadiah Metivier
Owner
www.middleearmedia.com