Invasive Species

Exotic-invasive plant species are non-native plants introduced into natural ecosystems that spread uncontrollably. Non-native or exotic species are not necessarily invasive.  Invasive plants, indicating plants that spread quickly, are not always exotic.  Together, exotic-invasive plants cause ecological damage and create economic problems including:  

• Competing with native plants for necessary resources like light, water, or nutrients which often crowds out native species and reduces biodiversity
• Altering habitats and thereby impacting wildlife
• Interfering with essential ecosystem functions such as water filtration
• Affecting native ecosystems’ ability to sustain economic activities like forestry, fisheries and agriculture.

Invasive species (plants, animals, insects, or pathogens) are one of the top four threats to the health and sustainability of America's forests.

Some species are deliberately introduced because they are thought to have value for wildlife, horticulture, or agriculture; others are accidentally imported in cargo or ships' ballast waters.

In 2005 an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker surveyed a 60 foot corridor along the Trail, documenting the spread of 24 species of invasive plants. Invasive plants occupied a total of 1,379 acres or 9 percent of the total acreage within 30 feet of the trail. Although these species were found along the entire Trail, they were most frequent and covered the greatest area in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The impacts of invasive species are significant and growing. Each year untreated infestations become larger, new infestations are discovered, and unfortunately, new invasive exotic species enter the Appalachian region.

Monitoring along the Appalachian Trail will serve several objectives:

• Help track the spread of problematic species
• Implement management action on Appalachian Trail lands to limit the spread of invasives and protect rare, threatened and endangered species as well as other critical habitats such as high elevation communities
• Raise public awareness and support to address the issue

In New England alone, more than 100 plant species are listed as potentially invasive on the regional list produced by the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE). Volunteers trained to recognize more of the exotics plaguing the Trail’s environment would probably find them in even greater numbers.

Support is needed in terms of volunteer labor, public and private funding, as well as and policy decisions that help prevent and repair the damages.

Monitor and Fight Invasive Species on A.T. Lands

The Invasive Plant Atlas of New England
The Invasive Plant Atlas of New England is a joint effort of the University of Connecticut, New England Wild Flower Society and the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. This consortium uses citizen scientists to collect, analyze, and provide information on invasive plant locations throughout New England: you can request to survey an area through which the A.T. passes. Volunteer information as well as data are displayed on the IPANE Web site.

Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere Program
The Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere (SAMAB) cooperative is made up of 11 federal and three state natural resource agencies.  SAMAB performs invasive plant surveys as well as work to eliminate invasive populations and perform follow-up monitoring. Volunteers are integral to the efforts to identify new and existing outbreaks of problematic species and remove them.