Supporting management of invasive species in forests and rangelands
A new scientific assessment provides information on the spread and control of invasive species for land managers.
The spread of invasive species is recognized as a major driver of biodiversity loss and a source of substantial economic and environmental damage. Global environmental changes, including climate change and land use change, continue to influence how invasive species spread and interact with ecosystems, presenting new and ongoing challenges for land managers. A recent USDA Forest Service (USDA-FS) assessment presents the latest natural and social science research on the ecology, impacts, and practical tools for management of invasive species affecting America’s forests and grasslands, including research on the interactions between invasive species and climate change.[1]
The scientific synthesis serves as a resource for land managers looking for information on current and future threats from invasives, the most important invasive species and issues in each region of the country, and what is known about control of invasive species. The assessment is the product of over 100 authors from the USDA-FS; other Federal agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, DoD, and DOT; and university, non-governmental, and tribal land partners.
[1] Poland, Therese M.; Patel-Weynand, Toral; Finch, Deborah M.; Ford Miniat, Chelcy; Hayes, Deborah C.; Lopez, Vanessa M., eds. 2021. Invasive Species in Forests and Rangelands of the United States: A Comprehensive Science Synthesis for the United States Forest Sector. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer International Publishing. 455p. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45367-1.
The emerald ash borer is the most devasting invasive forest insect pest in North America and threatens the nation’s ash resource. Credit: Deborah L. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station.