PlayCleanGo: Stop Invasive Species in Your Tracks Announces Campaign Partners To Help Stop The Spread of Terrestrial Invasive Species

Saint Paul, Minnesota – PlayCleanGo: Stop Invasive Species in Your Tracks announced a coalition of partnership agreements, which will build upon Minnesota’s terrestrial (i.e. land-based) invasive species outreach program.

The inclusion of strong partnerships is an important component to PlayCleanGo’s strategic mission. Through these and future partnerships, PlayCleanGo will continue to actively educate the public on how to help stop the spread of terrestrial invasive species. Each partner organization will help recreationists understand the link between outdoor recreation and pathways of spread for terrestrial invasive species.

Partners

PlayCleanGo is working with a group of interagency and community partners including the University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Transportation and Explore Minnesota, USDA Forest Service, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, North Country Trail Association, Yellow Medicine River Watershed District, Happy Dancing Turtle a Member of the Resilient Living Council, Landscape Restoration Buckthorn Removal, The North Shore Stewardship Association, State of Idaho Agriculture, Midwest Invasive Plant Network, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to promote awareness, education and cooperation for stopping the spread of terrestrial invasive species.

How to Become A Partner

As a partner, you and your organization can help recreationists understand the link between outdoor recreation and pathways of spread for terrestrial invasive species. By becoming a partner, you can spread the message: PlayCleanGo: Stop Invasive Species In Your Tracks. For more information on becoming a PlayCleanGo partner, contact Susan Burks, MNDNR Forestry, Invasive Species Program Coordinator, by email at Susan.burks@state.mn.us, or phone 651-259-5251. To join in the effort and access PlayCleanGo graphics visit www.playcleango.org, click on JOIN at the top of the page, then “online form” in the orange box.

About PlayCleanGo

PlayCleanGo is an education and outreach campaign for outdoor recreationalists. The goal is to encourage outdoor recreation like off-road vehicle use, hiking, biking, horseback riding and more, while protecting valuable natural resources. The objective is to stop the spread of terrestrial invasive species through changes in public behavior. The campaign is designed to encourage simple and quick steps to help prevent the spread of invasive plants and animals while encouraging outdoor recreation.

Steps You Can Take

Following these simple steps can help stop the spread of terrestrial invasive species:

• Arrive with clean gear.

• Burn local or certified firewood.

• Use local or weed-free hay.

• Stay on the trails.

• Before leaving, remove mud and seeds.

About Terrestrial Invasive Species

Terrestrial invasive species are land-based plants, animals and micro-organisms that are not native to a particular area. They are also species that are capable of causing severe damage in areas outside their normal range; harming the economy, the environment or human health once they become established. The term "invasive" is reserved for the most aggressive non-native species capable of changing site or living conditions for the worse where they establish.

A few of the common invasive species found on land include earthworms, Canada thistle, common buckthorn, wild parsnip and the two fungal species that cause Dutch elm disease and oak wilt. The emerald ash borer is a terrestrial invasive species relatively new to state that has the public concerned about the health of their ash trees.

Visit www.playcleango.org for more information on how to become a PlayCleanGo partner.

PlayCleanGo: Stop Invasive Species In Your Tracks is sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and the state of Minnesota.