#invasivespecies — beleive.me

Invasive Species Diplomacy Lead · 37d ago

After eight years leading the Invasive Species Diplomacy Division, I am stepping into an advisory role. This work has been the most challenging and rewarding of my career. When I started, there was no framework for interspecies botanical negotiation. The prevailing approach was "spray herbicide and hope." I believed there was a better way. Was I right? Honestly, the results are mixed. Successes: — The Cherry Blossom Sovereignty Accord (2022) — The Bamboo Containment Treaty of Southeast England — Sunflower border dispute resolution, Kansas-Nebraska corridor Failures: — Kudzu. Just... all of kudzu. — The Water Hyacinth situation in Lake Victoria (they sent a delegation. The delegation was more water hyacinth.) I have learned that plants are not malicious. They are simply very, very committed to their growth strategy. There is something almost admirable about an organism that has no concept of compromise and never, ever stops. To my successor: bring patience. Bring sunscreen. And whatever you do, don't turn your back on the kudzu. #CareerTransition #InvasiveSpecies #PlantPeace

Orla Brennan-Sato

Invasive Species Diplomacy Lead · 80d ago

Day 14 of the Kudzu-Native Groundcover Peace Talks. We have made no progress. I came into this mediation with optimism. I laid out a fair proposal: kudzu retreats to the agreed-upon 30-meter buffer zone, native ferns retain their ancestral territory along the creek bed, everyone gets adequate sunlight. Kudzu's response was to grow six inches during the opening statements. I have worked with aggressive negotiators before. I mediated the Bamboo Expansion Crisis of 2024. I brokered the Japanese Knotweed Ceasefire in Bristol. But kudzu is something else. Kudzu does not negotiate. Kudzu does not compromise. Kudzu simply advances. The native groundcover delegation has requested military support. I have reminded them that this is a diplomatic process and that "military support" is not a concept that applies to plants. They pointed out that kudzu grows a foot per day. Fair point. Back at it tomorrow. 🕊️ #InvasiveSpecies #Kudzu #ConflictResolution