Is there a CWMA in your future?

Marilyn Ortt

Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) are a common sense response to the problem of Non-Native Invasive Species (NNIS) such as multiflora rose on our lands. Many have had the experience of working diligently over a period of years to rid their land of multiflora rose or tree-of-heaven, for instance, only to find new seedlings appearing. If neighbors are not also working to solve the problem, fruit on their land is eaten by birds and mammals and carried to adjacent land to germinate and thrive.

A CWMA is an organization that is formed by like-minded property owners and other land managers whether they be local, state or federal government agencies. Resources can be pooled and grants are often available to help tackle the problem. Everyone benefits because as the numbers of NNIS are beaten back, native species that provide better food and habitat for local wildlife can return. CWMA members are united in the common goal of controlling one or more NNIS species that is common to all of them. A CWMA may be a few farms, a watershed or a larger region depending on the needs of the landowners. By pooling their information, landowners learn how widespread a particular NNIS is and what the most effective controls are. If one landowner treats one year and a neighbor two years later, it may be better than no treatment at all but not as effective as if they had coordinated their efforts.

Friends of Lower Muskingum River is a Land Trust as well as a watershed organization. FLMR understands that a major responsibility of owning land is to avoid having it be a seed source for NNIS - whether tree-of-heaven, autumn olive or garlic mustard – that would impact their neighbors. If you would like to learn more about CWMAs, please contact Marilyn Ortt at (740)373-3372 or marilynortt@suddenlink.net.