Up to 120 plant species considered for regulation in Pennsylvania

From the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association – The Pennsylvania Invasive Species Council (PISC) is considering recommending that as many as 120 plants identified as potentially invasive be recommended for regulation by the Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee (CPNWC).

The PISC will consider sending all or some of these plants to the CPNWC for regulatory consideration. PISC is only advisory so any regulatory action would have to be taken by the CPNWC. 

To analyze the potential impact of regulating these plants, PLNA sent a survey out to its membership via SurveyMonkey in early February. The survey asked members to rate plants as having “no value” to the industry, “some value” to the industry or “high value” to the industry. Forty-three members completed the survey.

The information gathered in this survey will be used as input to the plant evaluation protocol that is being established by the CPNWC. This protocol will include the environmental harm caused by a particular plant species. Those species that rate highly on the protocol will be considered for regulation, which could mean licensing the propagation and growing of a species to complete bans on propagation, growing, possession or transport.

To view the results of the PLNA survey, click here.