Behind the Battle: “If not me, then who? And if not now, then when?”
This is the first installment of our “Behind the Battle” interview series highlighting partner organizations and individuals working to combat invasive species across New Brunswick. Today we’re talking with Neil Vinson, the Resource Management Officer at Fundy National Park, who has been managing invasive Japanese Knotweed in the park.
Can you provide an overview of the invasive species issue at Fundy National Park, specifically focusing on Japanese knotweed?
Every year, Fundy National Park (FNP) welcomes upwards of 300,000 visitors from all over the world. All these visitors represent possibilities for unwanted introductions of invasive plants hitchhiking into the park on cars, boots, bikes, or anywhere else a seed can hide. In addition to always being on the lookout for invasive species, resource conservation staff conduct targeted monitoring surveys on a 5-year rotation. All the roads, front and backcountry campsites, day use/ picnic areas, the golf course, and the first 500m of every trail – essentially anywhere people go – are checked. Over 20 species are monitored for, and when an invasive species is detected, data are collected on its location, abundance, and distribution before any management decisions are made.
Japanese knotweed is of very little concern in the park, where its presence has been known since the 1970s. It was likely planted as an ornamental around homesteads before the park was established. It is very well established in these locations, and it will likely take many more years of management before it is considered eliminated. I say it’s of little concern because so long as we don’t handle it irresponsibly, it's not going to travel around the landscape. It doesn’t produce berries that birds can eat, fly away, and poop out seeds that start new populations outside of our survey area, like glossy buckthorn, burning bush, multiflora rose, or Japanese barberry. It doesn’t have phototoxic sap that poses a risk to those managing it like woodland angelica or wild parsnip. And it doesn’t produce thousands of viable seeds resulting in exponential population growth like Norway maple or wall and common hawkweed that are invading Fundy’s forests. I would rather attempt to manage Japanese knotweed every day, than have to deal with the slew of other impossible-to-manage invasive species accosting FNP.
How has Japanese knotweed impacted the park’s ecosystems and native species?
Very little. Japanese knotweed occurs in approximately 8 sites around Fundy. All but 1 of these sites are managed regularly and are contained. The site that isn’t managed is in an old borrow pit 200m off the Point Wolfe Road, where it is contained by surrounding forest – I do not expect it to spread from this site.
What strategies and methods are currently being used to manage and control Japanese knotweed in the park, and what are the main challenges you face in controlling Japanese Knotweed?
Currently the only methods of control for Japanese knotweed that we use in Fundy National Park are covering and repeated pulling. All our knotweed management sites are checked biweekly, and any new growth is pulled and left on site. In areas where more plant material is generated, we employ “knotweed hammocks.” These are just old pieces of net strung up in a tree, where knotweed stems or pieces of root can be contained on site until they dry out and die.
Can you describe any specific techniques or treatments that have proven to be effective in your efforts?
Covering knotweed is a lot of work initially, but once established, the covering is very low maintenance. We use durable woven fabric that has held up to the elements for 8 years and is still going strong. Our largest covering is in the Point Wolfe area and is approximately 250m2. Management at this patch began in 2016 by removing all the live stems, clearing out all the old dead debris, and digging out large root crowns to prepare it for covering. It was partially covered in 2016, with more covering added in 2017, and completely covered in 2018. This spring, live stakes of native species (willow, red osier dogwood, choke cherry, red-berried elder, and alders) were planted directly through the tarp to begin the restoration process. Recent checks on this site are showing promising results, with over 50% of the stakes showing signs of life!
How do you monitor the effectiveness of your management strategies for Japanese knotweed?
There is no silver bullet when it comes to managing Japanese knotweed (or any invasive species for that matter). The most suitable treatment depends on the size of the patch, the surrounding area, and the values of the landowner. New research has shown that the most effective, least impactful, and most sustainable way to send Japanese knotweed into remission is with well timed (late summer when the plant is sending resources down to its roots) application of the herbicide glyphosate (Jones et al. 2018; Hocking et al. 2023). Be sure to do your research and contact experienced professionals if you plan to go this route for knotweed control. Working in a national park, I made the decision to do my best to avoid chemical control, and all our invasive management continues to be through mechanical means. No matter the management technique you choose, expect your battle with Japanese knotweed to extend over years, and if sticking to mechanical control, over a decade.
What are the long-term goals for invasive species management in the park? Are there any upcoming projects or new strategies that you plan to implement?
Fundy’s long-term goals for invasive species management are to continue monitoring diligently, and to continue our management efforts, particularly where efforts have been made in the past. We recently lengthened the list of invasive species that we monitor and manage, and I’m keen to get started tackling some species where eradication may be possible (common valerian, burning bush, Norway maple…).
The best way to fight invasive species… is to not get them in the first place! Second to that, early detection and rapid response are ideal. Once established, invasive species can be extremely difficult to eliminate – it can take years of work to see a difference. Patience, and consistent management and monitoring are the keys to success.
How do you collaborate with other parks or organizations to share knowledge and resources about invasive species management?
I meet occasionally with other parks in the region to discuss what species they are dealing with, what strategies they employ, etc, but nothing very formal.
What lessons have you learned from these collaborations that could benefit others dealing with similar issues?
I’ve learned so many lessons along the way, it’s hard to pick out a few. Don’t bite off more than you can chew comes to mind! We’ve had to abandon some of our management because we simply lacked the ability to keep up with all of it. Once an invasive species is detected, it’s important to do your best to stop the spread before planning elimination. Target satellite populations and reverse the invasion – focus efforts on the edges of the affected area and do your best to prevent the plants from seeding. Management efforts are species and site specific – do your research and have a plan before you start!
Can you share a memorable experience or success story from your time working on this issue in the park?
Success stories? Few and far between, but a couple come to mind.
Through our invasive plant monitoring, wild parsnip was detected at 3 sites in the park where contaminated fill had unknowingly been brought in. We have managed these sites annually since their discovery, and we are seeing fewer and fewer plants every year. Had it gone undetected, it likely would have spread beyond any feasibility of control. Through early detection and rapid response, it has been contained, and maybe in a few years I’ll be able to say that it’s been eliminated.
There was also one time driving Highway 114 in the park where I spotted a small clump of Japanese knotweed that had newly appeared near to Kinnie Brook. I got out of my vehicle, and after adding it to iNaturalist, I pulled the plant. It must have been newly established, because it seems like all the roots came up, and I’ve not seen it since!
What motivates you personally to work on managing invasive species?
To be honest, I wish I didn’t have to work against invasive species. It’s an uphill battle, with no signs of victory on the horizon, and no end in sight. The thought of Fundy’s ecosystems being overtaken by invasive species and losing the diversity that makes our little park special is soul crushing. I really wish this was someone else’s file, and that I could focus on more enjoyable ones. But if not me, then who? And if not now, then when? I have the knowledge and the ability to do what I can to attempt prevention, containment, and sometimes eradication. I care very deeply about this issue, and don’t just deal with it at work- I pull out invasives that I spot in city parks when I’m out and about on weekends. I educate anyone who will listen on the benefits of gardening with native plants. I collect local native seed, grow plants, and give them away to friends and family. I do what I can, with what I have, where I am.