Dear Editor:
In response to: Millions Spent on War We'll Never Win by Todd Major.
Japanese knotweed is perhaps the worst example one could have chosen to belittle the harmful impacts of non-native invasive plants.
I am involved in a program to control this pest on a North Shore construction site which will cost the landowner tens of thousands of dollars. This investment will reduce the risk of later much larger costs if the knotweed were to grow through building foundations, asphalt covered areas or underground services.
Knotweed has wreaked enough damage in the U.K. that there are now severe restrictions on the movement of soil contaminated with its roots. Also, when selling real estate, the existence of knotweed on a property must be disclosed to the buyer who then might have difficulty in securing a mortgage. Such measures might be on their way here because our knotweed is bigger and spreading much quicker than in the U.K. It is misleading to say that knotweed will not grow into concrete to seek food and water. Instead, what happens when there are roots underneath is that it can grow up through the concrete, seeking light.
It is wrong to imply that a patch of knotweed should be left untreated because we cannot win the overall war. Imagine telling a patient who comes for your help, "No, I won't treat you because the disease cannot be eradicated overall." The correct response is to select the most effective treatment on the principle that it must not do more harm than the disease.
Correctly applied, herbicide is the treatment of choice for knotweed, and other invasive plants in certain situations. On the North Shore, hundreds of patches have been successfully treated with little or no impact on surrounding vegetation. The next step should be replanting. Native plants are the best choice for native wildlife, and ideal in public areas where maintenance costs are an issue.
Major is obviously not talking to "Invasive Plant Groups" because herbicide tolerance is discussed frequently. The best way of avoiding it in knotweed, or any other species, is to treat with the correct dose at the correct times and to complete the course of treatment.
It might be good copy to talk about "dinosaurs, zealots and warriors of the faith" but most of us who work for environmental protection are none of these things. Let's tone down the rhetoric and instead try to learn from what happens in other parts of the world where knotweed or other invasive species have not been controlled effectively.
Richard C. Beard
Operator - Green Admiral Nature Restoration
West Vancouver
