Planting Configuration Concepts of Using Bridge Crops as Nurse Trees to Reclaim Clay Settling Pond Areas Common Purpose Institute Natural Resource Planning Services October, 2003

“In areas other than closed-canopy forests or plantations, where cogon grass survives poorly due to shading.... infestations are treated by relatively costly, laborious, and repetitive control measures.” “Impacts on non-target species from herbicide applications are often severe, creating disturbances that allow for the re- invasion by cogon grass or secondary invasions by other weedy species.” Dr. Shilling and Gaffney University of Florida/IFAS Cogon Grass Control through Herbicide Bridge Crops – A Better Way Technically and Economically?

(1) Native Cypress Upland (2) Clay Settling Pond (3) Cogongrass Prairie (4) Tree Farm Bridge Crops Using Energy Crop Trees as Bridge Crops To return CSAs to Native Uplands -- Creating a “Market Cash Flow Engine” to Fund Restoration Our Bridge Crops stabilize Sites by controlling Cogon (shading) and also build Soil Quality to support Natives

2’5” Native Trees Logging/ Harvesting Access Path Logging/ Harvesting Access Path Eucalyptus/ Cottonwoods Energy Crops Eucalyptus Mulch/Timber ? (5 yr. Harvest Cycle) (3 yr. Harvest Cycle)

2’5” Logging/ Harvesting Access Path Logging/ Harvesting Access Path Eucalyptus/ Cottonwoods Energy Crops Eucalyptus Mulch/Timber (5 yr. Harvest Cycle) (3 yr. Harvest Cycle) Native Flora not touched by Harvest Equipment ?