Yavapai Weed Management Area: January 2011

A noxious weed is an invasive species of a plant that has been designated by county, state or provincial, or national agricultural authorities as one that is injurious to agricultural and/or horticultural crops, natural habitats and/or ecosystems, and or/humans or livestock.

Most noxious weeds are introduced species (non-native) and have been introduced into an ecosystem by ignorance, mismanagement, or accident. Occasionally some are native. Typically they are plants that grow aggressively, multiply quickly without natural controls (native herbivores, soil chemistry, etc.) and adversely affect native habitats, croplands, and/or injurious to humans, native fauna, and livestock through contact or ingestion.

Noxious weeds are a large problem in many parts of the world, greatly affecting areas of agribulture, forest management, nature preserves and parks, and other open space lands.

The criteria of a noxious weed:
These weeds are typically agricultural pests, through many also have impacts on natural areas. Many noxious weeds have come to new regions and countries through contaminated shipments of feed and crop seeds or intentional introductions such as ornamental plants for horticultural use.

The legal designation of noxious weed for a plant species can use these four criteria:
1. It is present in but not native to state-province-ecosystem.
2. It is potentially more harmful than beneficial to that area.
3. Its management, control, or eradication is economically and physically feasible.
4. The potential adverse of it exceeds the cost of control.

~ all information obtained from Wikipedia

Yavapai Weed Management Area

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January 4, 2011

What is a noxious weed?

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