A question for Shutesbury Rights of Wetlands Initiative: Why try to reinvent the wheel? European countries have battled Japanese knotweed for decades longer; why stand in the way by not learning from their mistakes?

Shutesbury Rights of Wetlands Initiative wants the town to forego the use of glyphosate (commonly Roundup) until “other methods” have been attempted and properly deemed ineffective. However, studies conclude that the most effective control method is a 2% glyphosate foliar spray (or paint, if spraying sounds scary), after the plant has flowered but before the first frost, when the plant is transferring nutrients to its roots.

A combination of professional/licensed treatment, repeated herbicide application, and monitoring is required to effectively control Japanese knotweed. It’s recommended to discontinue the use of other widely used herbicides (particularly synthetic auxins) and unnecessary physical control methods (cutting back, excavation, tarping, etc.) that add equipment and labor costs and increase environmental impacts, without improving control compared to spraying alone.

It’s safe to assume that many of the inhabitants of Shutesbury and surrounding areas live here because they care deeply for nature. For years we’ve heard the horrors of Monsanto’s use of Roundup, containing glyphosate, in agriculture and its impacts on people and the environment. This has led to a knee-jerk reaction against all herbicides. Presumably, if given a choice, even many glyphosate-using people would prefer a non-chemical option, if one actual y worked. Concern for environmental and human health can be remedied by hiring licensed professionals, who apply according to the product label, and wear correct PPE.

Glyphosate is a naturally occurring amino acid called glycine, which is attached to a phosphoryl (a chemical ion containing phosphorus and oxygen) to create glyphosate. It acts specifically on a plant’s enzyme system, which is unique to plants and not found in humans, animals, fish or insects. Its half-life is between a few days to several months, depending on soil type, amount applied, and environmental conditions during the application period. It is safe for use if it is used as directed by the product label, with some even approved for aquatic sites, though not all glyphosate products are created equal. Where products become problematic is if they have additional ingredients.

Glyphosate has been around since the 1970s and has been subject to hundreds of worldwide scientific studies. All but one found glyphosate to have no carcinogenic properties. The exception was by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2015, which was largely discredited due to deliberate omissions and a suspect conclusion.

Shutesbury Rights of Wetlands Initiative, why walk around in circles for years? Why let fear, misinformation and politicization guide us, rather than science? The native plants and ecosystems that we wish to protect are threatened today with erosion and extirpation caused by Japanese knotweed monocultures.

Sarah Manteiga is a native plant lover and resident of Leverett.