National Invasive Species Awareness Week 2025
National Invasive Species Awareness Week runs this week, February 24-28 2025, but the work to tackle invasives does not stop here!
Nantucket boasts some of the rarest and most fragile habitats in the US, highlighting the importance of preservation, and protection against invasive species.
What are non-native plant species?
Non-native invasive plants are non-native plants that establish within a local ecosystem. These plants can out-compete native plants for space and resources without any of the natural control measures that may exist in their native ecosystems. These invasions may cause aesthetic, biological, chemical, and economic damage to natural areas and possibly to your own backyard.
Dr. Sarah Bois is on the Northeast RISCC (Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change) leadership team, and co-chairs Nantucket’s Invasive Plant Species Committee, two organizations working to eradicate, research, manage, and educate the public about the island and Northeast’s non-native invasive species issues.
Since 2016, NE RISCC has tackled the impacts of invasive species and climate change by sharing science, supporting practitioners, and fostering collaboration. They bring together scientists, policymakers, and the public to drive research and action, believing that strengthening these connections leads to actionable science.
NE RISCC holds events, workshops, and conversations on climate change, invasive species in various habitats, and management, with upcoming events for 2025.
Nantucket’s IPSC has worked hard to develop invasive species removal recommendation guides to assist homeowners and conservation groups in managing invasive species on their properties. Non-native invasive species are often introduced through landscaping, so being a responsible gardener and choosing native plant landscapes is a way you can help the problem at an individual level.
Check out https://www.nantucketbiodiversity.org/ipsc for more information, or consider getting involved during this upcoming season of invasive plant pulls!
