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MU Campus Landscaping Hopes to Slow Spread of Invasive Species

Sara Shahriari
/
KBIA

Mizzou Botanic Garden has signed a pledge to stop the spread of invasive species. The garden ceremoniously removed the first of eight Callery pear trees from the landscape of Anheuser-Bush Natural Resource Building Friday. This species has spread rapidly amongst Missouri’s natural communities and endangers the native ecosystem.  Forestry Field Program Supervisor Brian Schweiss said invasive species can crowd out both native species and native habitats.

“We see a loss in our native plants and a lot of our animals in Missouri are adapted to the native plants,” said Schweiss, “So as invasive species take over it not only crowds out the native plant but it reduces the value of those areas for native animals.”

The Department of Conservation encourages people to refrain from planting non-native species because some species that are fairly safe today can cause problems further down the line.

The Mizzou Botanic Garden has taken efforts to remove several of the invasive trees and have finalized their commitment through this pledge. Director of Mizzou Botanic Garden Pete Millier said they should learn and grow from their mistakes.

“We know that some of the plants that we have introduced… are invasive and they displace natives and the plants that nature has designed to be a part of our ecosystem.” Millier said.

The other seven Callery pear trees will be removed next week. Millier said he hopes the Mizzou Botanic Garden’s commitment to the community’s native environment can set an example for other entities in the state to follow suit.