Assessing invasive plant species in Louisville’s Urban Forest

Within Louisville, KY's network of urban green space and forests, invasive plant management is vital to protecting biodiversity and allowing native species to thrive. Partners across the city have been working to identify non-native invasive species, map their spread, monitor how they affect native species, and mitigate damage from invasive plants. Much of that falls into three categories: 

1. Mapping patters of invasive plant presence in relation to disturbance

2. Recording the effects of various management practices and

3. Tracking forest health through the regeneration of native tree seedlings and saplings

This data is used to inform management plans and falls under two broad categories: qualitative/descriptive and quantitative/measured. Both data types work together to support a prioritization outline or triage plan for treatments and to understand the effects of land management practices. 

In a nutshell, this resource offers:

• A comparison between qualitative and quantitative methods of assessing invasive plants. 
• Mapping of invasive species presence and management. 
• Examples of quantitative data gathered about invasive plants and results of management.

How to use this resource:

• As a method for gathering data about invasive plants. 
• As a way to inform management priorities
• As a potential way to compare natural areas and management practices. 

Author: Elizabeth Winlock, Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Liz.Winlock@olmstedparks.org

Date published: May 2023

Point of contact: Elizabeth Winlock, Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Liz.Winlock@olmstedparks.org

Citation: Winlock, Elizabeth (2023) "Assessing invasive plant species in Louisville's Urban Forest," Cities and the Environment (CATE): Vol. 13: Iss. 1, Article 28. DOI: 10.15365/cate.2023.130128

Resource is available online here.