USDA Forest Service
Daniel Boone
National Forest
1700 Bypass Road
Winchester, KY 40391

Phone: 859-745-3100
FAX: 859-744-1568

Forest Service seeks public input on invasive plants treatment

For Immediate Release

Contact: Kimberly Morgan

WINCHESTER, Ky., July 14, 2009 – The Daniel Boone National Forest is seeing public input on a project that proposes to treat or eradicate non-native invasive plant species on national forest system lands. A variety of treatment methods would be utilized, such as hand pulling, mowing, controlled burning, and carefully considered herbicide application. The project proposes to treat invasive plants forest-wide, except in designated wilderness areas.

“Portions of the forest, particularly along roads and trails, are being overgrown with plants that are not native to Kentucky,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Bill Lorenz. “Many of these plants have accidentally been introduced to Kentucky and are now threatening our native ecosystems.”

The project proposal will use adaptive management, which will allow forest managers the flexibility of choosing various treatment options and the ability to treat newly discovered areas of non-native invasive plant infestations. Repetitive treatments may also be required in some cases to successfully eliminate these foreign invaders.  

“We have more than 70 non-native plant species that are currently threatening the national forest and much of Kentucky,” said David Taylor, Forest Botanist and project leader for the treatment of non-native invasive plants. “Not only are we concerned about the impacts to our native plants, but our native wildlife and their habitats are also threatened.”

For more information about this project, the public may visit the Daniel Boone National Forest website or call the Supervisor’s Office at 859-745-3100. 

Public comments on the proposed project must be submitted by August 14.

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