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Invasive Weeds Day at the Capitol
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Invasive Weeds Day at the Capitol Wednesday, March 9, 2005
The 2nd Annual Invasive Weeds Awareness Day at the Capitol, held March 9th in Sacramento, was a huge success! Organized by the California Invasive Weeds Awareness Coalition, the day included meetings with agency heads and legislators at the state capitol. Highlights included:
· Both Mike Chrisman, Secretary for Resources and A.G. Kawamura, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture spoke to the standing-room-only audience. Both agency heads noted that increased coordination to stop the introduction and spread of invasive species was a top priority for their respective agencies.
· Fifty-three (53) attendees worked in teams to meet with 80 legislators and/or staff members to discuss important statewide issues including Weed Management Area funding, the California State Weed Plan (expected to be released in the next few weeks) and California Invasive Weeds Awareness Week activities. An informational packet, including the position statements and contact information, was left with each legislator/staff member we visited. We also dropped off packets at 37 additional legislative offices, giving us full coverage at all Capitol offices! We covered twice as much ground as last year’s event where we visited 45 offices and dropped information at 10 offices.
The results:
· Our message was heard – even in a difficult budget climate, we reminded legislators that invasive and noxious weeds don’t stop spreading! Many legislators and staff members remembered CALIWAC from last year and were glad to see us returning with silk Yellow starthistle bouquets, invasive weed note pads and CALIWAC pins in hand!
· We made several great connections with legislators representing urban districts. A goal of the Invasive Weed Day at the Capitol was to help legislators understand how invasive weeds affect ALL of California including urban areas, wildlands and agriculture.
· Excellent discussions ensued with legislators/staffers, including suggestions for creative avenues for funding via the budget process, proposition funds and legislative bills. The meetings were summarized by each team, with key ideas highlighted for follow-up. CALIWAC and the participants are following-up on the ideas generated over the next several weeks.
Thank you to the participants and teams, a great CALIWAC committee that organized the event, and the sponsors and contributors that made the day possible! Now the follow-up work begins!
Sponsors and contributors for the 2nd Annual Invasive Weeds Day at the Capitol:
Regional Council of Rural Counties
DuPont Vegetation Management
California Native Plant Society
Wilbur-Ellis Company
California Invasive Plant Council
Monsanto
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
BASF
El Dorado County Weed Management Area
California Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils
UAP Timberland
California Cattlemen’s Association
Helena Chemical
Modoc County Weed Management Area
Target Specialty Products
California Forest Pest Council
Dow AgroSciences
California Farm Bureau Federation
CALIWAC is a coalition of private sector groups concerned about invasive weeds in California. The organization's mission is to support and enhance existing weed control efforts in the state and promote public awareness of invasive weed issues in California. Member organizations include NGO partners California Cattlemen's Association, California Invasive Plant Council, California Farm Bureau Federation, California Native Plant Society, California Forest Pest Council, The Nature Conservancy, Regional Council of Rural Counties, as well as industry partners Monsanto, Wilbur-Ellis Co., Dow AgroSciences and UAP Timberland. Advisory members include the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Agricultural Commissioners & Sealers Association.
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