Invasive Species Focus Area

Invasive Species is one of seven focus areas identified in SAMAB's 2003-2006 Program of Work. As a first step, SAMAB is focusing on non-native plants that are known to invade forests and pose a significant ecological or economic threat to those forests and the people who depend on them.

• Exotic Invasive Plants of Southern Appalachia: An Activity Guide--This is a curriculum for middle school students developed by SAMAB through a grant by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Photo Gallery--These invasive plants are common to the Southern Appalachian region. See thumbnail pictures, along with links to the larger pictures and information, on the following plants:
  • Chinese Yam, Cinnamon Vine, Air Potato
  • Garlic Mustard
  • Japanese Honeysuckle
  • Japanese Knotweed
  • Japanese Stilt Grass, Asian Stilt Grass, Nepal Grass
  • Kudzu
  • Mimosa, Silk Tree
  • Multiflora Rose
  • Oriental Bittersweet
  • Princess Tree, Empress Tree, Royal Paulownia
  • Privet, Chinese and European
  • Tree of Heaven, Chinese Sumac, Stink Sumac
• Asheville Weed Team--read about their quest to rid Asheville of invasive plants!
• Warning List--learn about exotic invasive plants new to, near, or just beginning to invade, the southern Appalachians.
• Invasive Plant Species Project Area Maps (on the SAIN web site)
  The following maps containing data collected by SAMAB's Volunteer Monitoring program on invasive plant infestations in the region are available:
  • Wayah Bald (Franklin) Area (77KB)
  • Pittman Center Area (1.1MB)
  • Hot Springs Area (297KB
  • SAMAB's Invasive Pest Plants Literature Collection (on SAIN web site)
• "Invasive Pest Plants in the Southern Appalachian Mountain Region" Bibliography Database (on the SAIN web site)- The creation of this resource was planned and carried out under the direction of SAMAB and completed by Brian Bowen (Natural Areas Administrator, State of Tennessee) with technical support provided by Claude Bailey (Botanist II, State of Tennessee). It provides source information about introduced plants that presently, or may potentially, impact the Southern Appalachian Mountain Region.
• Links to other web sites