Area of infestation and presence/absence of invasive and non-native plant species of concern

Framework / Assessment
Summary

Invasions of non-indigenous species can threaten native biodiversity, ecosystem functions, animal and plant health, and human economies. Plant invasions are a serious threat to natural and managed ecosystems. The optimal solution regarding invasive and non-native species is to prevent the introduction of these species into the ecosystem. However, in many rangeland situations, this option has already been lost, and a system must be developed to manage invaded areas, monitor exotic organisms, and attempt to minimize their impacts on other ecosystems. The proposed indicator is designed to track the area of infestation and the presence or absence of invasive or nonnative species on rangeland over time.