A new community collaboration is set to kick off a week of action aiming to remove invasive species from trees in Fairfax County.
Fairfax Tree Rescuers will officially launch the Fairfax Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) with invasive species removal events throughout the county from Saturday (Nov. 8) to Nov. 16.
The Tree Rescuers, a volunteer organization, already does invasive species removal throughout the area, but the new initiative will help compile data and coordinate efforts to combat its spread.
“It is to establish a more coordinated and systematic way to deal with the invasive species in our [area],” said Jo Doumbia, a member of the Fairfax PRISM Steering Committee.
The program will tackle infestations in parks and other public or private areas, working with homeowners’ associations and faith organizations. It also will provide resources for individuals to reach out if they’re worried about invasive species in their area. Landscapers will be able to sign up for training courses to identify and remove invasive species.
Some of the invasive species prevalent in Fairfax County include kudzu, oriental bittersweet, Japanese wisteria and porcelain berry. The plants are usually planted in gardens and then seeds are carried away by birds or through weather-related events and attach to native trees.
The Fairfax County Park Authority also has a volunteer invasive plant management program for its properties, but Doumbia said it only has the equivalent of 2.5 full-time employees.
“They don’t have the resources to handle the whole county,” she said. “It is impossible for them to do everything.”
Doumbia said the initiative will support the county’s work and leverage training programs.
The week of action includes at least one event in each of the nine districts of the county, plus the City of Falls Church.
Volunteers are asked to register for the events for planning purposes. Volunteers should also wear long sleeve clothes, closed toe shoes and insect repellant. They are asked to bring tools like loppers, clippers and pruning saws, just not power tools.
A full list of events, links to register and additional information can be found on the Fairfax PRISM website.
