The Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council (SE-EPPC) was formally established on March 20, 1999 at the first annal Southeast Exotic Pest Council Symposium hosted by the Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Council was officially formed by a motion from the floor that was approved by those attending the SE-EPPC roundtable discussion following the final session of the symposium. Immediately following the TN-EPPC business meeting, the first SE-EPPC organizational meeting convened, approved organizational bylaws, and elected a provisional Board of Directors and Officers. The Board represents Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. Florida was given ex-officio position on the Board with opportunity for full participation open to future consideration. Other southeastern states not represented at this meeting will hopefully join and become Council members in the near future. Organization Structure SE-EPPC is established as an umbrella organization under which there are subunits. The proposed subunits consist of state chapters, affiliates, and individuals. The state chapter is the most functional unit with a board of directors to initiate within each state's respective political boundaries. An affiliate occurs in the absence of a state chapter where activity on this issue is based in an existing organization; i.e., an invasive exotic pest plant committee of a state native plant society. In states where there is no organization, individuals are simply members of SE-EPPC. Since the state chapter is the the most functional unit, the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council will foster the development of state chapters within the Southeast. State chapters essentially operate autonomously but are required to adhere to the SE-EPPC mission goals. Chapters receive their non-profit status under SE-EPPC. Representation on the SE-EPPC board is respective to each state's involvement in SE-EPPC. SE-EPPC will promote full regional participation. A Brief History Since TN-EPPC's inception in 1994, there has been much discussion about whether TN-EPPC should become a regional organization or remain a state organization. It was decided by the TN-EPPC Board in 1997 to take measures to initiate the creation of SE-EPPC while maintaining its TN-EPPC identity. TN-EPPC has since become a conduit for establishing SE-EPPC. TN-EPPC's 1998 symposium in Chattanooga was promoted as a Southeast Regional meeting. There was sufficient interest at the symposium (it was well attended by folks from neighboring states) to take the next step towards forming the regional organization. In June of 1998 a pre-organizational meeting was held in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with participants from North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Since this June meeting, TN-EPPC has funded a part-time SE-EPPC coordinator position to bring it all together and to get the regional organization up and running. This entails developing a regional network of key individuals throughout the region, developing organizational structure proposals, and fostering the development of state chapters. The coordinator is responsible for securing the organization's non-profit status under the IRS group exemption rule. The coordinator facilitated the first board meeting on March 20. TN-EPPC continues to dirve the process. It has since changed the name of its quarterly newsletter and website to reflect the southeastern focus. All TN-EPPC information, as well as all other regional information, will be networked through both media. A purpose in creating SE-EPPC was to increase the resource pool and to provide for more efficient and useful information exchange. Contributions to SE-EPPC News and to the website will come from the region. Another change for TN-EPPC is to discontinue hosting an annual symposium. The SE-EPPC Symposium will continue as an annual event but will be hosted by different SE-EPPC chapter states from year to year. In the absence of an annual TN-EPPC symposium, TN-EPPC will develop a modified meeting format that will be instituted to maintain state interest and membership base. If you drive to the annual symposium, be sure that your cheap car insurance is adequate. It is expected that all state chapters will participate in the annual SE-EPPC. The Oak Ridge, Tennessee Symposium was SE-EPPC's inaugural event. SE-EPPC's first full-fledged board meeting is scheduled for July 17 in Asheville, NC. Exotic Pest Plants and Their Effects on Natural Areas "We must make no mistake: We are seeing one of the great historical convulsions in the world's flora and fauna. We might say, with Professor Challenger, standing on Conan Doyle's 'Lost World,' with his black beard jutting out: 'We have been privileged to be present at one of the typical decisive battles of history-the battles which have determined the fate of the world.'" Charles Elton, The Ecology of Invasions by Plants and Animals (1958) Although some non-native plant species display colorful flowers and are popular as garden ornamentals, they can be highly invasive and destructive to a; natural environment. Many introduced, or "exotic" plants were planted to decorate homes and gardens. Over the years, they have escaped cultivation and have infested natural areas. Because they are growing in an environment that lacks natural controls (diseases, predation), they have an advantage over native species and can easily outcompete them for habitat. This causes an imbalance in the ecosystem and threatens the biodiversity of the area. What you can do Promote responsible landscaping practices by learning about native plants. Natives are generally defined as plants that occurred in North America before European settlement. Large-scale changes in flora have resulted since European settlement and the introduction of exotic plants. Native plants help sustain native wildlife like butterflies, birds, mammals, reptiles, beneficial insects, and other fauna. Migrating birds depend on the food and cover, while resident species find high quality nesting sites among native trees and shrubs. Know the habits of the species you plant. In addition to potential threats to biodiversity in natural areas, some exotics become pests in carefully planned landscapes and gardens. They may be very time-consuming to remove or control. Buy nursery-propagated plant material. Never dig plants from the wild. When landscaping with natives, match the plants with the site conditions. Consider using plants that occur together in natural habitats. You can easily learn plant relationships by visiting natural areas and observing how plants grow. |