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The Plant Conservation Alliance, a coalition of federal agencies and their Tribal, state and non-governmental partners with the goal to protect and restore resilient native plant communities, released a five-year progress report detailing coordinated efforts to increase the pace, quality and scale of native seed development and use in restoration efforts across our Nation.

Resilient native plant communities protect America’s lands, mountains, streams, vulnerable coastal communities and infrastructure from the effects of climate change and extreme weather events. Native plants are key to a restoration economy that engages our next generation of farmers, conservation professionals, scientists and land managers.
See related resource: National Seed Strategy

The National Slow the Spread (STS) Program is dedicated to slowing the spread of spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) throughout the U.S. The STS Program is part of the USDA's  integrated pest management (IPM) program and national strategy for Lymantria dispar management. Slow the Spread efforts are coordinated by a chartered, non-profit foundation that coordinates the operations of the program and facilitates the movement of funding between federal (USDA Forest Service and APHIS) and state agencies. Slow the Spread is one of the world’s largest and most successful integrated pest management programs. 

State and Federal agencies collaborate in a national integrated pest management (IPM) program called the Slow the Spread Program (STS) to reduce the spread rate of Lymantria dispar and limit its impacts. Slow the Spread is one of the world’s largest and most successful integrated pest management programs. 
See related resource: National Slow The Spread (STS) Program

The Acting Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mr Derek Hanekom, has announced the release of the National Status Report on Biological Invasions in South Africa [PDF, 5.5 MB]. He noted that "this report represents a milestone for the Republic of South Africa as it is the first comprehensive national-scale assessment of the status of biological invasions and their management anywhere in the world".

Prepared by: National Advisory Committee on Invasive Species, Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad, Comisión Nacional de Áreas Protegidas, Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales. México.

Several species of insects, native to North American forests, occasionally cause significant tree mortality across the landscape. For many years these insects may be a low, or endemic levels, but when conditions favor them, their populations can build up to damaging levels.

Kick the invasive exotic gardening habit by planting native plant alternatives. Provides native plant recommendations for the Mid-Atlantic region.

This tool is designed to help you find the best native plant species to attract the butterflies and moths and the birds that feed on their caterpillars in your area (by zip code). See more information about this tool.
See also: General information about Native Plants

Local Native Plant Societies are often your best source of information about plants native to your area.
Note: Provides information for State and Canadian Provinces.

Use this infographic resource to learn which pollinator -attractive plants are native to your region.

A new 9-part series 'Native Seeds: Supplying Restoration' about the native seed supply chain in the Western U.S. by the International Network for Seed-Based Restoration. Filmed over four seasons, this series weaves together footage of seed collectors, farmers, researchers, and land managers working to scale up the supply of native seeds to meet the growing restoration demand. Several USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station researchers are featured in these videos. Videos were released June 29, 2023 - August 24, 2023.

Hunting for natural enemies of the red imported fire ant is paying off for Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. Their latest discovery — a new virus found in fire ants from Argentina — has the potential of becoming a biological control agent against the red imported fire ants infesting the U.S.

A parasitoid wasp that is the natural enemy of a fly known as the spotted-wing drosophila could be a good friend to growers. Washington State University researchers recently confirmed the discovery of the potentially beneficial wasp in the United States for the first time. The drosophila flies cause major damage to several Washington crops, especially sweet cherries and berries. The wasp, which lays its eggs in the flies, could be a means of controlling their spread.

In this edition of Natural Inquirer, you will learn about several different invasive species. You will learn about how these invasive species spread and the studies that scientists conduct to better understand and stop the spread of invasive species. After this Natural Inquirer edition, you will be able to help spread the word about what invasive species are and how to control them! 
See also: Invasive Species Issue for more information.