Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA)/Buckthorn
In 2008, Rice SWCD received money from the Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR) to create a Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA). A CWMA is a local organization that integrates all invasive plant management resources across jurisdictional boundaries in order to benefit entire communities. Invasive species easily spread across property or any artificially created boundary. Rice SWCD has started by focusing on Buckthorn education and control in the Cannon River Wilderness Area.
Buckthorn Information:
Buckthorn a native to Europe has spread from hedging into native areas, because there are no natural competitor’s buckthorn out-competes native vegetation.
Both common and glossy buckthorn is listed as a restricted noxious weed in Minnesota making it illegal to import, sell or transport buckthorn in Minnesota.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), buckthorn is a problem because it:
- Out-competes native plants for nutrients, light and moisture
- Degrades wildlife habitat
- Threatens the future of forests, wetlands, prairies and other natural habitats
- Contributes to erosion by shading out other plants that grow on the forest floor
- Serves as host to other pests, such as crown rust fungus and soybean aphid
- Forms an impenetrable layer of vegetation
- Lacks ‘natural controls’ like insects or disease that would curb its growth
Additional information can be found at: www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/woody/buckthorn/index.html
Buckthorn Identification:
Buckthorn is a tall shrub or small tree. When identifying buckthorn look for:
- Leaves and buds are sub-opposite
- Leaves bud out early in the spring and stay green late into the fall
- Twigs tipped with sharp horn
- Buds pressed to stem
- Egg shaped leaves with curved parallel veins
- Black berries with several seeds that ripen in August and September
- Cut branch exposed yellow sapwood and orange heartwood
For more information check out: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/woody/buckthorn/id.html
Buckthorn Identification Pictures
Buckthorn Control:
Effective control measures for buckthorn vary depending on the site and size of buckthorn. Common control measures include: burning, cutting, herbicide or pulling. Since buckthorn seeds stay viable in the soil for up to five years additional management needs to take place in the following years.
Additional information can be found at:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/woody/buckthorn/control.html
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/invasives/fact/buckthorn_com.htm
Buckthorn Information