In the Northeast, communities and scientists alike are witnessing extended growing seasons along with more dramatic and frequent weather events. Less visible -- but still impactful -- are changes like the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere increasing. These factors all negatively affect our forests, which the birds of Vermont depend on for food, breeding, or year-round habitat. If we look closely, we can pick up indications of a changing climate in our backyards and woods. Some common invasive plants in Vermont, like barberry and shrub honeysuckles, leaf out earlier and stay green longer than locally evolved woodland plants. Predictions suggest this divergence will increase as the climate continues to change, providing a greater advantage to the growth of invasive plants. While grappling with this reality can feel overwhelming, there are concrete actions we can all take to protect the future of our forests from the dual impacts of climate change and invasive plants.
Learn
Invasive plants did not evolve in the ecosystem where they are now considered to be causing harm, be it environmental, economic or harm to human health. Though the impacts are real, these are just plants, growing and being plants, and they got to where they are because they were transported by humans – a lasting reminder of humankind’s ability to make mistakes.
Phenology is the study of the life cycle events of living things – like tracking when plants get their leaves, their flowers, and their fruits. Knowing this information gives us a better understanding of the species in our ecosystems, can guide the timing of our invasive plant management work, and can help us track the impacts of climate change on plants in Vermont.
Common barberry with ripe fruit. Barberry is a fairly common invasive species in Vermont with two primary species Common or European Barberry (Berberis vulgaris, pictured above and cover photo) and Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii).
Get Involved
There are many useful ways for people to get involved, including taking part in community science projects tracking invasive plant phenology.
Pesky Plant Trackers (in Vermont!) is a project focused on tracking the phenology of wild parsnip and knotweed across the eastern U.S. Are there wild parsnip or knotweed plants near where you live or work? Consider joining this regional effort to better understand these plants. Observers “adopt” specific wild parsnip or knotweed plants and track the plants’ phenology through the growing season.
The Vermont Invasive Plant Phenology Project is establishing a baseline dataset for invasive plant phenology in Vermont (there’s currently an absence of strong, widely available data). With this baseline data, we’ll be able to track phenological shifts that occur due to climate change, and use the data in real time to help plan for and manage invasive plants effectively. Project participants are utilizing the National Phenology Network's database and its online mapping tool, Nature's Notebook, to collect valuable information for managing state lands, as well as how land stewards, communities and landowners plan, budget, and implement terrestrial invasive plant control efforts.
In 2022, The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation (FPR) is spearheading these projects and we need your help! Contact us if you’d like to take part.
Shrub honeysuckle leaves and flower bud.
Make a Difference
Over 75% of Vermont is beautiful forests – with more than 80% of that being privately owned. So even small actions add up, like choosing locally evolved plants for your garden that support birds and pollinators or pulling up invasive garlic mustard on town trails. By sharing this burden with our neighbors, family, and community, we can empower ourselves and others to act and effect true and lasting solutions. These small steps amount to making a difference in Vermont.
Elizabeth Spinney, GMAS Board & Invasive Plant Coordinator, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation
Contact: anr.fprInvasivePlants@vermont.gov