Texas A&M Forest Service Nature Challenge
Invasive Plants
Invasive plants are not native to an environment or ecosystem and also cause harm when introduced. When an invasive plant is introduced, whole ecosystems change drastically. Invasive plants compete with native plants for sunlight, moisture, nutrients, and space. They also grow quickly, and often aggressively, smothering and choking out native species. As a result, native plant species diet out, plant diversity decreases, habitat and ecosystem quality degrades, and wildlife decreases.
Many invasive plants are introduced into environments accidentally. Some are imported with landscape and nursery stock, fruits and vegetables, and other goods and materials. Because invasive plants often produce large quantities of seeds, they can be spread by birds and other animals, and even the wind. Sometimes, even humans can spread invasive plants when they aren't aware or don't realize the dangers.
Help prevent the spread of invasive species in Texas by shopping for native plants and reporting sightings of invasive plants.
Details
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This Challenge is for:
- All Ages
- Formal Educators
- Informal Educators
- Landowners
Challenge Topics:
- At Home
- Biodiversity
- Connecting Children with Nature
- Conservation/Environmental Education
- Homeschool
- iNaturalist
This Challenge is accessible for:
- People with Visual Impairments
- People with Hearing Impairments
- People with Mobility Impairments
- People with Developmental Impairments
- People with Sensory Sensitivities
Things you’ll need...
To complete this challenge
Step one
Prevent the Spread of Invasive Plants
You can help prevent the spread of invasive species in Texas! Be smart when you shop for plants - choose natives or other plants that aren't invasive.
Step two
Report Sightings of Invasive Plants
Take a picture, record the location, and report any sightings of invasive plants to texasinvasives.org. Common invasive plants include Bastard Cabbage (Rapisrum rugosum), Chinaberry Tree (Melia azedarach), Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense), Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera), Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Johnson Grass (Sorgham halepense) and Wax-Leaf Privet (Ligustrum japonicum).
Step three
Earn your badge!
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Texas A&M Forest Service and cooperators collectively known as “Nature Challenge” have not inspected the physical locations of challenges. No warranty of safecondition, or fitness for particular use is granted by Nature Challenge. Nature Challenge has not vetted whether the challenges, as formatted by the Provider, is safe. Anyone performing this challenge will be doing so at their own risk.
