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GReenway Invasives Partnership
The GReenway Invasives Partnership (GRIP) is a partnership of local organizations dedicated to eradicating exotic invasive plant populations and restoring native riparian habitat along the Little Tennessee River Greenway. GRIP uses a comprehensive and collaborative approach to reach its goals. “Comprehensive” in that it focuses on numerous fronts: education and awareness, exotic invasive plant prevention, detection, control, and native plant restoration. “Collaborative” in that GRIP works with multiple partners, across multiple land ownerships, and using multiple groups of volunteers.
GRIP focuses much of its attention on the removal of exotic invasive plants because these invaders are the number one threat to natural communities along the Greenway. An exotic invasive plant is a plant introduced into the United States from another country by human activity, either intentionally or by accident. These plants are capable of spreading aggressively and monopolizing resources such as light, nutrients, and space to the detriment of native species. As a result, native habitats shrink or disappear and overall native biodiversity is reduced. Furthermore, removing exotic invasive plants and restoring native habitat provides a safe harbor for rare plants and rare plant communities, creates high-quality forage and shelter for animals, and provides superior protection of water quality from urban run-off and pollution.
GRIP relies on the help of dedicated, hard-working volunteers to accomplish its goals. Please consider volunteering with GRIP. Individuals and groups are welcome to volunteer once or adopt an area of the Greenway as part of an on-going project.
Volunteers are needed to: 1) Remove exotic invasive plants 2) Search for new infestations of exotic invasive plants 3) Replant and maintain native habitat 4) Conduct field surveys of plants and animals 5) Educate the public
To learn more or to volunteer, please contact: Sunny Himes , GRIP Project Coordinator 828-507-1188,
shimes@ltlt.org
Partners
Lead Partners:
Core Partners:
GRIP 2009-2010 Steering Committee Members : Kay Coriell, Friends of the Greenway (FROGS) Dennis Desmond, Land Trust for the Little Tennessee (LTLT) Bob Gale, Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA) Tim Garrett, Southwestern NC Resource Conservation and Development Council (SWRC&D) Anita Goetz, US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Jason Love, Coweeta Long-Term Ecological Research Program (Coweeta LTER) Duke Rankin , US Forest Service (USFS) Mary Bennett, Gear Up
Links for more information on invasive plants: www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov / plants
US Forest Service Get a GRIP! On exotic invasive plants |
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