Cities working to prevent invasive species

Foresters across Greater Lafayette are working to safe local ecosystems from invasive species like the Bradford Pear Tree.

They are focusing in on a species of tree known as the bradford pear.

Foresters like bryce patz are leading the way to save local ecosystems from the bradford pear tree.

Patz: "this is our opportunity to help remove those invasive species that have an amazing and terrible impact on our public lands as well as private lands."

Patz helps run operation releaf, a remove and replace program in west lafayette.

The program will remove any bradford pear with a non- invasive tree on any west lafayette resident's property.

But patz says only trees within a public right-of-way are eligible to be removed.

Patz: "it's between the sidewalk and the curbs.

But if people don't know if it's in the right-of-way or not, just give us a call or an email and we can verify that for you."

According to lindsey purcell, these trees have been a growing issue over the years.

Purcell: "they'll grow in virtually any growing condition.

So what they do is they block out the favorable native plants and the ecosystem is just destroyed."

Lafayette has also taken steps to limit such plants from growing.

Urban forester tim detzner says the city has made a list of plants that are prohibited from being planted.

Detzner: "that doesn't apply to people's private property, but anywhere in the city and any new developments that come up, they are not allowed to plant bradford pears."

He says this is just one step the city is taking.

Detzner: "it does spread so prolifically and we want to minimize that as much as we can."

In tipp.

Co, balint szalavari, news 18.

Detzner says the lafayette and west lafayette leaders have also been in talks to create a joint program.

Operation releaf in west lafayette will be removing bradford pears each spring and fall.

Fruit farmers are getting ready for u- pick season with added precautions for visitors.

Blueberry