Public event to address the problem and solutions

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry and the National Park Service are partnering with Keep Sevier Beautiful to host an educational event spotlighting kudzu in the Sevier County area. The public is invited to learn about this highly invasive and destructive plant and what homeowners can do to control it around their homes and communities.

Kudzu can grow up to 15 inches per day, impacting biodiversity, aesthetics and the native plant ecology in an area. It’s also a significant fire hazard, helping wildfires spread from the ground into the canopies of trees and shrubs.

“Kudzu is a widespread forest health problem in Sevier County and the greater East Tennessee region,” Area Forester Brook Smith said. “We are excited to team up with our natural resource management partners to offer this educational opportunity for citizens to gain knowledge about the biology of kudzu and how to control it.”

The event will be Jan. 30, 2020 at the Sevierville Civic Center located at 200 Gary Wade Blvd in Sevierville. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. EST with technical specialists and vendors available with management information and control services. Specialists from the Tennessee Division of Forestry and the National Park Service will offer presentations from 6 p.m. until 7.

The Division of Forestry promotes the responsible use of forest resources by assisting landowners, suppressing and preventing wildfires, providing quality seedlings, monitoring insects and diseases, improving urban forests, managing state forests, protecting water quality, and collecting forest inventory data. The Division also works to promote primary and secondary forest industries to stimulate the state’s economy. Visit www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests for more information.