Growing Greener Anniversary- Ahead of the Curve – An Example of Foresight During the Early Years of Growing Greener

Three years before Governor Rendell signed Executive Order 2004-1, creating the Pennsylvania Invasive Species Council, the Department of Environmental Protection recognized the devastating impacts of invasive plants in riparian areas.

In 2001, the DEP awarded Natural Biodiversity, then termed the Invasive Species Control Program, a $62,800 Growing Greener grant to inspect invasive plants within the Conemaugh Watershed and restore riparian areas to a diversity of species.

With matching funds from PA Foundation for Watersheds, then termed The Western PA Watershed Program, partners joined forces to implement nine visible demonstration riparian forest buffer restoration projects, create a restoration handbook, and form Natural Biodiversity, the program that exists today.

With significant state funding in place, Natural Biodiversity was able to secure its first National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant to form a cooperative effort in managing invasive plants within the 1887 square-mile Kiski-Conemaugh River Basin.

Most impressive are the interpersonal relationships formed by these early collaborations. As soon as the Growing Greener grant was awarded to Natural Biodiversity, I received a call from the Harrisburg DEP office. It was Patricia Pingel, the former DEP Chief of Watershed Conservation, who later went on to serve DCNR’s Office of Conservation Science, before recently retiring.

Despite her prominent leadership position at DEP, she expressed interest in co-advising the project alongside southwestern regional advisor Annette Paluh. The two advisors and I visited a number of trails, and I leaned on them for their expertise in flora and watersheds.

As we walked along the Conemaugh River, we felt dismay, as wide expanses of Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) were all that we could see. If only someone would have seen this plant’s destructive tendencies when there were only a few plants; what a marvelous riparian area would exist here! But only the knotweed prevails.

Now, it was our task to educate the public on the issue of invasive plants so that in the future, prevention rules and success is possible.

The most important event that was derived directly from the Growing Greener grant was the demonstration site open house that occurred in July 2002, involving about 25 attendees, most of whom became Natural Biodiversity steering committee members, volunteers and ambassadors.

With this grant, we drew the spotlight onto the floral composition of riparian areas by taking a closer look at invasive plants’ impacts, specifically those of Japanese knotweed. We also demonstrated how restoration is possible in the face of entrenched invasive plant problems.

But one of the most important outcomes of the project was the realization that early detection and rapid response to invasive species is key to protecting landscapes, ecosystems, people and economies from the impacts of invasive species.

As a result of working with Pat and Annette, along with other dedicated professionals and volunteers, Natural Biodiversity learned early on that true working relationships are the key to restoration success.

With the 2001 Growing Greener grant, Natural Biodiversity was created and launched its three-pronged approach, which still exists today: Assessment, Conservation and Engagement. A comprehensive approach is a difficult one, continually pulling resources down diverse pathways, from on-the-ground projects to education and outreach. But, it’s the right approach for Natural Biodiversity, one that works from all possible in-roads toward success.

We’ve since implemented aerial hyperspectral invasive plant survey, developed an innovative invasive plant predictive model, educated countless thousands on the issue, and engaged over a thousand citizens in land restoration service.

We’re currently participating in many exciting projects, from a DCNR Wild Resource Conservation Program-supported invasive species curriculum for Pennsylvania educators to an NFWF-funded Juniata Cooperative Weed Management Area. We are prioritizing invasive plants based on their ecological impacts and are developing landscape-scale early detection and rapid response.

We have participated in vital statewide and national invasive species efforts, yet we still restore locally, recently completing a native plant restoration and education project with Shade Creek Watershed Association on their Reitz #1 AMD treatment site in Central City.

We are even changing local plant industry markets, as seen by a rise in requests for native plant material at local nurseries since the inception of our outreach efforts.

These are exciting times for Natural Biodiversity, largely due to strong partners who invested in our early efforts, before many knew what invasive plants are or realized the devastating impacts they have. Our second grant ever, Natural Biodiversity’s first Growing Greener experience led to large impacts with many more to come.

This article tells only one of many Growing Greener stories. I reflect on our chapter of the Growing Greener story and occasionally think, “What if Natural Biodiversity had not received its DEP’s Growing Greener grant?”

I only wish today’s lawmakers could have a similar “George Bailey”-type experience when they are making decisions about conservation funding for Pennsylvania’s future. If only they could see a Pennsylvania devoid of any kind of Growing Greener investment or matching funds over the last decade – Maybe conservation funding would be a higher priority than it is today.

Visit our website to see what Natural Biodiversity is doing now, as opportunities for new partnerships abound.

Kristin Sewak can be contacted by sending email to:ksewak@naturalbiodiversity.org