WSSA PRESS RELEASE - BIOFUEL CROPS: PANACEA OR PANDORA’S BOX? It’s a Cinderella story. Weeds, scorned and trod on for years and persistently excluded from the manicured gardens and uniform crops of respectable horticultural and agricultural society are fast becoming the darlings of a burgeoning biofuel industry. But not all fairytales have a happy ending. WSSA WHITE PAPER - BIOFUELS AND INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES A variety of plant species from a range of taxa, including crops and wild plants, are being considered for use as biofuels. It is important to consider not only the economic and social benefits of these species, but the potential risks associated with their introduction and propagation. NEW WSSA PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL - INVASIVE PLANT SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT Invasive Plant Science and Management will focus on fundamental and applied research on invasive plant biology, ecology, management, and restoration of invaded non-crop areas, as well as on educational, sociopolitical, and technological aspects of invasive plant management. E-LEARNING-ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS AND THE PUBLIC IN INVASIVE PLANT ISSUES The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Center for Invasive Plant Management announce a new e-learning website aimed at engaging volunteers and the public in invasive plant issues and management. Designed for National Wildlife Refuge volunteers and Friends groups, the website provides science-based, introductory information that is suitable for anyone interested in learning about invasive plants. The five self-study modules address the purpose and history of the Refuge System, how volunteers help in invasive plant management, how refuges manage invasive plants, and tips for community outreach. Each module contains a quiz and web-based resources that enable learners to explore topics more thoroughly. The website is part of a larger program carried out by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in conjunction with partners, such as the National Wildlife Refuge Association, to engage volunteers in managing invasive species on National Wildlife Refuges. This program includes competitive grants and training in how to map invasive plant infestations using hand-held computers and GPS devices. INVASIVE PLANTS OF RANGE & WILDLANDS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIETAL IMPACTS (BOOK) This valuable reference for scientists, weed control specialists, resource planners and policymakers provides comprehensive information on the acreage infested, rate of spread and damage caused by sixteen important invasive plant species. The book has individual chapters that document the distribution, the environmental and economic impacts, the recognized value and use, and comprehensive literature citations for each of the sixteen species. IPINAMS CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS (BOOK) The proceedings of the IPINAMS (Invasive Plants in Natural and Managed Systems) Conference have been published as this Special Edition of Weed Technology (Volume 18, 1179-1582, 2004). This 403 page volume contains 81 peer reviewed papers that correspond with presentations delivered at the landmark IPINAMS Conference that was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in November 2003. This Special Edition of Weed Technology constitutes one of the most timely and comprehensive sources of information currently available on the science and management of invasive plants.