Title: Regional Monitoring of Nonnative Plant Invasions With the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program

Author: Rudis, Victor A.; Gray, Andrew; McWilliams, William; O'Brien, Renee; Olson, Cassandra; Oswalt , Sonja; Schulz, Beth

Year: 2006

Publication: In: Proceedings of the sixth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2004 September 21-24; Denver, CO. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-70. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 126p.

Abstract: Monitoring nonnative plant invasions by the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program includes (1) assembly of regional lists of nonnative invasive plant species in forest land, (2) observations at systematic intervals equivalent to a 5-km grid with traditional forest resource measurements, and (3) growing-season observations of all vascular introduced and native plant species at 1/16th of those locations (a 22-km grid) with additional forest health measurements. Strengths and limitations of this collective effort are discussed. This report provides lists of species to be monitored, preliminary results that rank infestation probability and severity in southern United States forest land, and highlights from studies of earlier surveys in selected States.