Greene County residents are collaborating to form a new Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area to help mitigate the county’s issues with invasive plants.
Residents at a public meeting Monday night said they want to better identify and control the invasive species they’ve spotted on their properties.
Amber Slaughterbeck is a Regional Specialist for the Indiana Invasives Initiative. She says the volunteer taskforce can help bring awareness about the dangers of invasive species.
"One of the things that we really want folks to do is to educate yourself before you purchase plants," Slaughterbeck says. "Before you put your shovel in the ground, make sure you know what you’re planting."
Invasive plants are non-native species which can easily spread and cause damage to the natural environment. More than 120 species are categorized as invasive in the state of Indiana, including burning bush and tree of heaven, which are common in Greene County.
In January, the Natural Resources Commission passed a rule banning forty-four invasive plants in the state of Indiana.
