An invasive species is non native and causes harm to the environment, human health and the economy. The annual environmental, medical, and economic costs of invasive species are greater than all other natural disasters combined. Invasives are the 2nd leading threat to endangered species. Impacts of only a subset of invasive species are estimated to cost the U.S. about $120 billion annually through direct damage, treatment costs, and losses to productivity. Of the $120 billion, an estimated $35 billion is from plants.  Invasive species out compete and eliminate native plants taking critical habitat for wildlife and pollinators with them.

The good news -- our actions managing our own properties and our choices when buying plants can help take back our ecosystem!  Join us on April 2nd to learn about invasive species, how to identify and treat the most common species, and how to create an invasive species management plan for your property. Weather permitting, we'll have outdoor demonstrations covering ID and treatment. We'll also cover resources available to you through the SWCD and Hamilton County Invasives Partnership. 

What are invasive species

Learn the basic of invasive species including what they are and why they are bad for our environment, economy, and health. Explore how these species came to Indiana and why they are such a problem for our native plants and wildlife. You'll also learn about resources available to your locally to help you combat invasives.

Management & ID Basics

Learn the basics of how you identify and manage common invasive vegetation through the main control practices including cut stump treatment, foliar spraying, mechanical pulling, and basil bark treatments. You'll also learn tips and tricks to make your treatment a success. 

Outdoor Demonstrations

We'll head outside for hands on demonstrations of invasive species ID and demos of treatment methods. You'll be able to see the common management and safety tools in action. 

Creating a Management Plan

Unfortunaetly, invasives management is typically a multiyear process and if you have mulitple species it can be hard to know where to start. Stephanie Schuck, Executive Director of State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management, will teach you how to create a management plan that works for your property.

Safety Training Module- pre-workshop online training

Participants will also be invited to take our online "Soil & Water: Invasive Species Volunteer & Strike Team Safety Training".  To complete this training you review an online slide presentation of safety considerations related to invasive species work and acknowledge completion within the system.  This information is a great supplement to the workshop but completion of the training prior to our workshop will also allow you to actively participate in the hands on portion of the event AND allow you to participate in HIP Strike Team events.  Participants who register before Friday 4/1 will receive an email with access to the online training portal by Friday 4/1. Late registrants will get access the week of 4/4.

Light snacks will be provided. Please bring your own coffee mug and water bottle.