The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission’s (ANHC) System of Natural Areas provides a landscape where biodiversity can flourish. However, non-native invasive plants species are a major threat to the natural heritage of Arkansas and require regular monitoring and management. Non-native plant species are plants that have been artificially introduced to an area that is beyond their known historical range. They are considered invasive when their growth is aggressive and they reproduce rapidly, causing major changes to the habitats where they become established. As they spread across our landscape without the natural pressures (predators, parasites, diseases, and competitors) that exist in their original habitats, they can quickly overtake the native flora. 

Kudzu (Pueraria montana) is an infamous example of a non-native plant that quickly outgrew its welcome in North America. Originally promoted by the U.S. government as a source of silage (food) for cattle and to control erosion, Kudzu escaped cultivation and can now be observed blanketing areas where native trees and shrubs have been outcompeted. 

Addressing non-native invasive species on natural areas can be a challenge and can quickly become overwhelming and frustrating. Fortunately, digital apps such as iNaturalist can be used to identify and map them. There is a feature built into the platform that provides a warning exclamation mark (!) with a notation informing the user that this species was introduced and “arrived in the region via anthropogenic means” (related to human activity). To see how widespread non-native plants are and how quickly iNaturalist identifies them, go outside and take a couple of photographs of a weed along the roadside or in the cracks of the sidewalk. Upload the images to iNaturalist and see if the plant is non-native. Chances are, if you live in a suburban setting, the plant you photographed may be non-native. If you record the photographs as an observation, you have provided photographs that the community can view to aid with identification, and you’ve provided a mapped location of where it occurs.

Mapping is a valuable tool that helps land managers recognize places where non-native species need to be reduced and/or removed from native environments. Professionals rely on maps to know what species are present on a natural area. Maps can also convey the size of populations in an area. Project planners can use this information to determine the best techniques to control non-native species and estimate how much time it might take to complete the work.

ANHC stewardship staff take advantage of iNaturalist’s useful identification tool in addition to its mapping capabilities. They can view iNaturalist to identify which non-native species have been found at natural areas and prioritize places to visit for detailed mapping to inform non-native species management. 

To help the ANHC stewardship staff find non-native species in natural areas, you can submit observations with photographs for ANHC staff to assist with identification. Include a photograph of the overall population size, if possible, or note the overall size of the occurrence. It also helps to provide more than one photo and more than one perspective view (photo of underside of leaves in addition to a photo of the plant from the top down, etc.). In this way, iNaturalist provides an interface where volunteers can provide a practical and tangible service that can help land managers stay informed about our natural areas and quickly document areas that may need treatment.

You can learn more about invasive plant species in Arkansas from our Invasive Plant Species FAQ which includes links to additional information on the topic and our Invasive Plant Species Found in Arkansas list.