DUNDEE, IOWA (August 23, 2019) — Oriental bittersweet is a major problem at Backbone State Park in Dundee, Iowa, and in many woodlands across the state. At Trees Forever's upcoming "What Has Wandered Into Backbone?" Workshop, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will unveil their top invasive species threats in Iowa, which finds Oriental Bittersweet right at the top of the list.   During this workshop on Friday, September 20, 10:30AM-3PM (registration starts at 10AM), landowners will learn to care for their woodlands and identify and treat invasive species. The group will start at Backbone Golf and Country Club (located at 1244 400th Street in Strawberry Point) before touring parts of Backbone State Park. "In the fall of 2017, we started treating one heavily-infested area with chemicals and another with prescribed burns," Iowa Department of Natural Resources forest health specialist Tivon Feeley said. "Now we will show landowners the difference between the two plots, and they can decide what treatment is more effective. We hope this will help private landowners deal with Oriental bittersweet and other invasive plants in an effort to revive and maintain our native ecosystem."  "Native plants provide more benefits for the environment than non-native plants, including better food and habitat for animals and pollinators," Trees Forever field coordinator Patty Reisinger explains. "Learn about the resources available so you can help us protect our native ecosystem by removing invasive species and implementing sound land management practices." The $10 registration fee covers lunch and handouts. Register online at www.TreesForever.org /whathaswanderedintobackbone This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Trees Forever, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the US Forest Service and Syngenta's Operation Pollinator.

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