Invasive Species

Invasive species present one of the greatest threats to the health and biodiversity of public lands. These unwelcome plants, insects and other organisms are disrupting the ecology of natural ecosystems, displacing native plant and animal species and degrading our nation's unique and diverse biological resources.

Help Protect Our Public Lands from Invasive Species

On National Public Lands Day 2011,  volunteers removed an estimated 20,000 lbs. of invasive species. Join the nation-wide effort to eradicate non-native invasive plants on the next National Public Lands Day - September 29, 2012!

Whether you’re a public land manager, environmental educator or just an interested individual, check out these resources about invasive species. 

Federal Resources --- State Invasive Species Webpages --- Non-Government Resources

Federal Resources

• The Department of the Interior's The National Invasive Species Council provides a wealth of information on types of invasive species and appropriate control methods as well as curricula for K-12 students. The website highlights federal invasive species control programs and activities. 

• The Department of Agriculture's National Invasive Species Information Center serves as a reference gateway to information, organizations and services about invasive species covering federal, state, local and international sources.

• The Invasive Species Program  is a portal to USDA Forest Service invasive species information, related management and research activities across the agency and with Forest Service partners.

• PLANTS Database by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts and lichens of the U.S. and its territories. There is a special section on invasive and noxious weeds. 

• The National Park Service's Invasive Species website has photos, stories, descriptions, impacts, management and restoration information on different invasive species.

• Explore Nature: Invasive Species Management is a National Park Service website that provides general information about exotic species and 17 Exotic Plant Management Teams that manage invasive plants on park lands.

• Least Wanted: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas offers illustrated, easy-to-read fact sheets on invasive alien plants with native ranges, plant descriptions, ecological threats, U.S. distributions & habitats, background of introductions, plant reproduction & dispersal, management approaches, alternative native plants and other useful information.  

• "What are invasive species?" overview and resources for teachers from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

• US Fish and Wildlife Service's Environmental Contaminants Program contains an electronic library of resources on invasive species as contaminants of ecosystems.

• The Bureau of Land Management's Invasive and Noxious Weeds website offers Information about invasive weeds, national strategy and weed wanted posters.

• Invasive Species, a website of the US Environmental Protection Agency, provides general information about coastal invasive species, fact sheets and links.

• Nab the Aquatic Invader! has general information about exotic species, list of exotic aquatic animals and plants and resources for teachers.

• The US Geological Survey website, Ecosystems - Invasive Species Program, provides general information about invasive plants and describes the agency’s role in federal efforts to combat invasive species.
• The United States National Arboretum offers links to state-by-state information on invasive plants and how to remove them.

State Invasive Species Webpages

• Alaska
• California
• Florida 
• Ohio 
• Maine
• Maryland
• Minnesota 
• Missouri
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania 
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

Non-Government Resources

• Florida Invasive Plant Education and Curriculum  provides standards-based curricula for elementary, middle, and high school students on invasive plants.
• Learn how to identify common invasives in your community with Backyard Invasives, a program of the Nature Conservancy.
• The World Conservation Union's Invasive Species Specialist Group offers a Global Invasive Species Database and advice on threats from invasives and control or eradication methods.
• NatureServe compiles and maintains extensive data on the plants of the United States and Canada. Read the NatureServe publication, America's Least Wanted.