Invasive Plant and Biological Weed Control Program
Invasive Plant Grant Program
The Invasive Plant Grant Program provides funding to partners to implement state noxious weed strategic plans that identify priority landscapes and priority invasive plant species. Program goals include enhancing education, planning and monitoring efforts to prevent new invasive plant invasions; implementation of Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) measures for eradicating new invaders; control of small infestations of established invasive plants; and containing the spread of existing populations of targeted invasive plants. The program promotes the appropriate use of approved weed classical biological control agents, working cooperatively and across various landownership boundaries, and implementation of state and Federal weed management strategies.
Partners include state agriculture departments, county weed supervisors, Cooperative Weed Management Areas, resource conservation and development councils, tribes, universities, and researchers.
Services
- Technical assistance related to invasive plants, noxious weeds and integrated weed management treatments.
- Facilitate partnerships to provide cooperative assistance to the public and partners with invasive plants, noxious weeds, and biological control.
- Partner with states, tribes, and others to complete invasive plant projects.
Weed Biological Control Program
The Weed Biological Control Program works with partners such as states, universities, nonprofit organizations, Federal agencies, Forest Service Research, and national forests to facilitate the meaningful incorporation of biological control into long term integrated weed (nonnative invasive plants) management. The biological control program complements the Invasive Plant Grant and Pesticide Use and Coordination programs by providing clients with weed biological control technical assistance, training, and improved access to weed biocontrol agents.
Key partners involved in this program include state agriculture departments, county weed supervisors, coordinated weed management areas, resource conservation and development councils (RC&Ds), tribes, universities and research entities, Bureau of Land Management, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Services
- Technical assistance related to invasive plants and biological control treatment options.
- Work with states to provide cooperative assistance to the public and partners with invasive plant biological control.
- Partner with states, tribes, and other entities to complete joint or adjacent invasive plant biological control projects.
Pesticide Use and Coordination
Pesticides, as a component of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, are used by the Forest Service to prevent, control, or manage unwanted native plants, animals, pathogens, and non-native invasive species on all areas of the National Forest System (NFS). The Pesticide Use and Coordination Program works to provide technical support and current information associated with pesticides, pesticide registrations, application techniques, and technology to all Forest Service offices, cooperators, and partners. The program also helps with pesticide application and safety training, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, and assistance with environmental analyses and risk assessments related to the use of pesticides.
Services
- Technical assistance and training related to pesticide use and safety.
- Work with states to provide cooperative assistance to the public regarding pesticide education, information, and applicator training.
- Technical assistance to improve pesticide use and application through the Forest Service Pesticide Impact Analysis Program (FS-PIAP) in cooperation with university research staff.