by Graydon Monroe, Virginia Department of Forestry 

Invasive species are one of the many ecological problems faced by Virginia landowners.  An invasive species is a species which was introduced by humans and causes some sort of negative economic or ecological impact. They pose a threat to the health of forests in Virginia and can be problematic for forest landowners. They produce many negative outcomes by out-competing native species. These outcomes include loss of timber, aesthetic beauty, wildlife habitat, and forest accessibility.   

Fortunately, landowners are collaborating to fight invasive species by forming Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management, also known as PRISM.  The PRISM concept began in the western United States, where they were sometimes known as CWMAs, or Cooperative Weed Management Areas. The model proved to be very effective in facilitating private landowners coming together to manage invasive species on their properties. Multiple landowners working to manage invasive species on their properties can have major impacts on the ecosystem at a landscape scale. 

The PRISM idea quickly spread from the West to the Midwest. In fact, the Midwest Invasive Plant Network produced a document called the CWMA cookbook which serves as a how-to guide for setting up a new PRISM. In the last two decades, the PRISM concept arrived on the East Coast and has been successful in many regions. 

While the primary focus of a PRISM is to help landowners manage their own lands effectively, a PRISM doesn’t only involve landowners. Community members can get involved with treatment days on public lands and outreach events that spread awareness of invasive species management.  Ecological restoration is also a component of the PRISM concept. Once invasives have been managed, the next step is to plant native species. Additionally, PRISM meetings serve as a kind of forum for discussion on best practices and lessons learned in managing forests. 

In Virginia, we have three highly successful and well-established PRISMs. The National Capital PRISM is organized by the Metropolitan Council of Governments and covers some Maryland counties, Washington DC, as well as Arlington and Fairfax Counties, and the cities of Fairfax and Alexandria. Fairfax Tree Rescuers is a specialized PRISM that covers Fairfax County and Fairfax City. The Blue Ridge PRISM is a grassroots effort started by landowners and covers the counties of Albemarle, Augusta, Clarke, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Nelson, Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham, and Warren as well as the independent cities of Staunton, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, and Charlottesville which are enclosed by those counties. In addition to these highly successful PRISMs, there have been grassroots efforts across the state, and many regions have nascent PRISMs.   

One such effort is the newly organized Southwest Virginia PRISM. This PRISM covers the counties of Carroll, Grayson, Bland, Wythe, Craig, Giles, Pulaski, Floyd, Montgomery, and Roanoke as well as the independent cities of Galax, Radford, Salem, and Roanoke. 

In March, initial interest meetings were held in Galax and Salem, introducing the idea of a PRISM and bringing together interested individuals and entities. The first general meeting of the Southwest Virginia PRISM was held in May at the Christiansburg library and general meetings have been held every other month since then. These meetings typically open with a discussion of PRISM business, a presentation from a guest speaker, and opportunities for attendees to ask questions or discuss how they manage invasive species on their properties. People who intend to be more involved with the organization serve on the steering committee which meets in the intervening months. The locations of general meetings are on a rotation to try to get coverage of all ten counties and all four cities within the geographic scope of the PRISM.   

In September, two invasive species workdays were held in the Town of Blacksburg with plans currently in the works for more workdays in October. These invasive species workdays feature treatment of woody invasive species such as tree-of-heaven, paulownia, mimosa, roundleaf bittersweet, autumn olive, wisteria, and shrub honeysuckles. Attendees cut down invasive trees and vines with handsaws or hack into them with hatchets, then licensed pesticide applicators will treat the invasive plants with herbicide. 

If you are interested in joining the new Southwest Virginia PRISM, please fill out this form to be added to the email list: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/y5yKjA0p06.

For more information about Virginia’s PRISMs:

Blue Ridge PRISM: https://blueridgeprism.org/, info@blueridgeprism.org

Fairfax Tree Rescuers: https://fairfaxprism.org/en-us, fairfaxtreerescuers@gmail.com

National Capital PRISM: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/invasive-management-area 

Southwest Virginia PRISM: graydonmonroe@dof.virginia.gov

Graydon Monroe is an Invasive Species Specialist, Graydon.monroe@dof.virginia.gov, 804-845-8855.