AMHERST TIMES
In honor of Invasive Species Awareness Week, on Thursday, July 13, from 10am to 1pm, the Western New York Land Conservancy is partnering with the Western New York Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) to remove Tartarian Honeysuckle from the Kenneglenn Nature Preserve in Wales.
Tartarian Honeysuckle is an invasive shrub that was introduced to the United States from Asia. Here in Western New York, where it has no natural controls, its leaves appear early in the spring and remain into late fall, giving it a competitive advantage over native plants. The implications of an invasive plant infestation are wide reaching, from impacts to native woodland plants to insects and birds.
According to Jajean Rose-Burney, expert birder and Land Conservancy Deputy Executive Director, “Some studies show that, unlike native plants, honeysuckle berries are not the high fat, nutrient rich food that migratory birds need to make their long flights. The native plants that migratory birds need disappear when honeysuckle takes over.”
PRISM and the Land Conservancy have been working hard over the last few years to control the honeysuckle infestation at Kenneglenn, but volunteers are needed to get the job done. PRISM staff will train all volunteers how to identify and remove honeysuckle. Tools and lunch will be provided.
Advanced registration is requested at www.2017honeysuckleharvest.eventbrite.com. For more information, please call the Western New York Land Conservancy at (716) 687-1225.
Originally published on Amherst Times. Republished with permission.
