Issue 14

When Cogongrass Invades, Southern States Fight Back

The urgent need to address the cogongrass crisis in the South has led to the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among seven states: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

By signing the MOU in October 2008, the states agreed to coordinate efforts and leverage expertise and resources to control the invasive. Cogongrass task forces are being When Cogongrass Invades, Southern States Fight Back formed in support of an integrated strategic plan for cogongrass eradication. Together, state forestry agencies will organize outreach programs to help landowners and organizations identify and prevent the spread of cogongrass.

Prior to the MOU, the states most impacted by cogongrass infestations to date—Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina— joined forces to control the plant, map its distribution, and provide educational resources through a 3-year grant from Forest Service State and Private Forestry (S&PF).

Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia will receive over $8 million on behalf of S&PF as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The ARRA funds will be released to the states in late 2009 and will be used to create jobs related to the treatment of cogongrass-infested lands.