Viable, alternative solutions presented
in the document on this site:
to
Risky Business: Invasive species management on National Forests -
A review and summary of needed changes in current plans, policies and programs
www.kettlerange.org/weeds/

February, 2001
by George Wooten and Marlene Renwyck


Chapter 1. Policies
A.1. Policies and plans need clearly defined goals and objectives linked to performance measures.

A.2. Plans need a sound, consistent framework for making decisions. A.3. Programs need to treat the causes of invasions, not the symptoms, if they are to succeed. B. Projects and plans must incorporate measurable standards and guidelines. C. Programs must be held accountable to budgets. D. Policies, plans, and programs need adjustments based on periodic evaluations. Chapter 2. Disclosure
A.1. Planning documents must disclose all potential significant impacts, and provide detailed discussions and mitigation measures for all reasonably foreseeable impacts. A.2. Planning documents must be site-specific. A.3. Planning documents must disclose potential impacts of proposed chemical applications, along with the impacts of other alternatives. A.4. Decisions must not be biased toward the choice of a predetermined alternative. A.5. Planning documents must be prepared by qualified personnel, and based on a thorough review of up-to-date scientific studies. B.1. Projects must have goals that accomplish a stated need. B.2. Action alternatives which propose herbicide use must demonstrate an overwhelming public need. B.2. Herbicides should be considered only a last resort, after all other viable alternatives have been considered. C. Section C. All planning documents must address the impacts of invasive species and proposed control measures, whenever soil disturbances are planned or as a result of planned activities. D. Decisions must be subject to public review and appeal. Chapter 3. Adverse impacts
A. Adverse impacts of chemicals on human health must be quantified and eliminated. B. Adverse impacts of chemicals on the environment must be quantified and eliminated. C. Stringent safety precautions for handling chemicals should be followed and applications should strictly adhere to established procedures. D. Treatments should receive adequate public notification. Chapter 4. Monitoring and reporting A.1. Monitoring should be included in all projects with invasive species impacts. A.2. Monitoring reports for vegetation management projects must be available to policy-makers, program managers and the public. B. Monitoring procedures.
B.1. Monitoring procedures should be carefully designed to provide useful information about project outcomes. B.2. Monitoring should provide useful answers to relevant questions. B.3. Monitoring should be performed by qualified personnel. B.4. Monitoring should use valid statistical and sampling procedures. B.5. Monitoring should include adequate baseline data and experimental controls. C. Mitigation procedures must include implementation monitoring. Chapter 5. Prevention of weed invasions
A. Preventive measures must receive high priority. B. Plans need comprehensive prevention strategies. Chapter 6. Education and research