It’s not just a problem for agriculture. Invasive noxious weeds are a threat to Oregon’s natural environment. Fighting weeds is a shared responsibility. In fact, the theme to this year’s Oregon Invasive Weed Awareness Week is SHARE, which stands for Saving Habitats and Restoring Ecosystems. With plenty of evidence showing a direct tie between weeds and degraded water quality or riparian conditions, messages center on the idea that all Oregonians can be part of the solution. Governor Kitzhaber has proclaimed May 18-24 as Oregon Invasive Weed Awareness Week. His proclamation states: • Oregon historically has dealt with the presence of unwanted noxious weeds that are non-native to the state and that by their invasive nature, pose a genuine danger to the well-being of the state’s citizens and resources; • Oregon farmers, ranchers, conservation groups, and public and private sector entities, unanimously support implementation of integrated weed management projects to protect Oregon’s natural resources and economy; • The economic impact of just 21 noxious weeds in Oregon has been estimated to reduce Oregonian’s personal income by $83 million per year, which is equivalent to 3,329 jobs lost to Oregon’s economy. The economic harm caused by invasive weeds in Oregon is matched by its impact on natural habitats and ecosystems. Some of these plants may look pretty, but have nasty characteristics. They reproduce prolifically and crowd out desirable native plant species. In some cases, they can change an entire habitat important to wildlife.
