Invasives Strike Force
Combatting invasive species and engaging with partners to preserve and enhance the natural beauty and ecological health of the Lower Hudson Valley.
Invasives Strike Force Crew
The Invasives Strike Force (ISF) Crew is a boots-on-the-ground team of AmeriCorps members part of the Trail Conference’s Conservation Corps (TCCC) Program. The ISF targets high-priority invasive species populations throughout the Lower Hudson Valley under the Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (LH PRISM) contract. In doing so, they help protect our beloved natural areas for generations to come!
Become an ISF Crew Member!
Interested in spending your summer helping lead habitat enhancement projects, engaging the public, and networking with environmental leaders across the region? We are seeking passionate individuals for both Crew Leader and Crew Member seasonal positions! Gain hands-on experience with plant identification, best management practices, data, and more while giving back to the land you love. Applications go live near the beginning of each year, but feel free to reach out with your interest at any time!
What We Do
Prevention and Early Detection
The Lower Hudson Valley is a hub for people and commerce, and as such is subject to the introduction of new species. Although most introduced non-natives don’t become invasive, prevention of introductions and rapid response to new invasives is critical to environmental health. Through hosting volunteer workdays, the ISF engages the public about invasives ecology and the importance of native biodiversity, encouraging cultural changes towards preventing new introductions. By targeting emerging invasive species, the ISF aims to eradicate them before they can become as widespread as prevalent species like barberry, burning bush, and bittersweet.
Protecting Important Resources
The Lower Hudson Valley boasts culturally and ecologically diverse and rich areas across the region. When these areas are encroached on by invasive species, the ISF steps in. Data on the rare, threatened, and endangered species as well as significant natural habitats is compared with known invasive species population data for targeted management. The ISF also prioritizes projects in areas treasured by Trail Conference Volunteers and Partners for their recreational, historic, and cultural values.
Volunteer with Us!
Restoration Volunteers work to protect native habitats by removing invasive plants across parks in New York and New Jersey. From the Delaware Water Gap to Bergen County, NJ, and Orange to Dutchess County, NY, the crew makes a lasting impact on our beloved outdoor spaces.
