Forest Health Walk, Stop 2

Invasive Plants

Healthy forests are filled with native plants that can support numerous species of native birds, insects, mammals, and amphibians. A healthy forest will have a variety of native plant species of various shapes, sizes, and ages. 

In contrast, a forest that is overrun by invasive plants is unlikely to support native wildlife.  

Invasive plants are defined as plants that are not native to an area, are very aggressive in their growth patterns, and tend to spread quickly. The section of the trail between Stops 1 and 2 contains many invasive plants, such as Asiatic bittersweet, Japanese barberry, and winged euonymus. (Winged euonymus is also known as burning bush.)

Invasive plants are often found where soil has been disturbed or dug up. The disturbed soil gives seeds a great place to germinate.

Before Cowassock Woods was protected by SVT, this area was cleared for a planned road, which created a fresh disturbance, and the machinery likely also carried in invasive plant seeds.

Invasive plants are harmful because they take space and resources away from native plants. They also do not provide the food and habitat needed by native wildlife. 

For example, most native insects will only eat native plants and will not eat the leaves of invasive plants. The berries of invasive plants are less nutritious for birds than are the berries of native plants. Some birds even raise fewer chicks when nesting in an invasive shrub. 

To improve the health of Cowassock Woods, SVT volunteers have spent many hours removing invasive plants from this area. In addition, an ecological landscape company applied herbicide treatments directly to the cut stems of larger invasive plants along this trail. 

We will continue to monitor this area and remove as many invasive plants as possible so native plants can thrive.

Now, continue down the trail and cross through the utility right-of-way to Stop 3.