Forest Services proposes use of herbicides to combat invasives

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Shawnee National Forest has proposed a new approach to combating invasive species integrating manual, mechanical and chemical methods.

According to a postcard notice from the forest the attack will involve four phases: The treatment forest-wide of four highly invasive species, of 23 natural areas and invasives, of main pathways of invasion and of new infestations.

In the past, for example, the Forest Service has suggested a method of spraying herbicide on kudzu and then burning it. Currently, herbicide use is permitted only at recreation areas and administrative lands.

The forest is accepting comments on the proposal 30 days from the the notice was published in the "Southern Illinoisan" newspaper which was Aug. 18.