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Invasive Eradication - A number of species of invasive plants have established a presence on the Forest
and pose a threat to native plant communities and the fish and wildlife species they support. These
threats can be manifested in a variety of ways: changing soil fertility and stability, increasing fire return
intervals, altering habitat needed by other native animal species, and decreasing water availability.
Where possible, implementation of control measures to remove invasive species should be conducted.
Invasive plant species of particular concern include:
 Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.)
 Giant reed (Arundo donax)
 Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium)
 Spanish broom (Spartinum junceum)
 Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis)
 Russian thistle (Salsola tragus)
 Blessed thistle (Centaurea benedictus)
 Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
 Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
 Pampasgrass (Cortaderia selloana)
 Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

Figure 3. Select vegetation communities and invasive species on the ANF.

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