Engineering > Transportation > Invasive Species

The primary path by which invasive plant species are spread in the National Forests is traffic on roads. New infestations are often found along roads. Road maintenance personnel are often the first Forest Service employees to report new infestations.

Road construction and maintenance activities, when not done in accordance with applicable standards, can severely aggravate species spread. Thus, it is critical to educate road program employees about best management practices to prevent invasives spread. It is critical that roadside ground disturbance be minimized and desirable plant species be maintained along roadsides.

In so doing, the agency’s goal of preventing the spread of invasives species will be greatly enhanced.