---

Native, Non-native, and Invasive Plants

Native plant species have developed over thousands of years in specific ecosystems.
Non-native plant species are introduced into new ecosystems, and are generally considered harmless. They may find its own niche or share a niche with a native species and exist there harmoniously.
Invasive plants are non-native species that outcompete the native plants and harm biodiversity. They thrive in the places they are introduced to, overtaking the ecosystem and destroying any sense of balance it once had.

How do plant species migrate?

They can migrate both knowingly and unknowingly.

Knowingly — Non-native species that are considered ornamental or thought to be potentially helpful to an ecosystem may be purposely introduced somewhere, much like Louisiana’s invasive Chinese Tallow trees.

Unknowingly — Seeds and spores on clothing from hikes, larvae in boat crevices, and even animal feces allow for species introduction and migration.

The Problem of the Chinese Tallow Tree

The Chinese Tallow Tree is one of the most harmful invasive plant species we deal with, disrupting the balanced habitat of our Louisiana wetlands.

• Acidifies the soil, lowering the pH making it difficult for native plants to survive
• Blocks sunlight to the understory, reducing photosynthesis of native plants and outcompeting food sources for migratory birds and insects
• Reduces the habitat’s ability to absorb stormwater, increasing flooding and storm damage
• Withstands the ecosystem’s necessary prescribed burns, further displacing native plants
• Grows very quickly — from seedling to 6 feet tall in a year — and almost year round in our climate
• Creats a lot of seeds that birds and many other animals — like squirrels, raccoons, and possums — eat and spread
• Has no natural predators in Louisiana, like insects, mammals, and diseases

What We’re Doing & the Louisiana Iris

At the Northlake Nature Center, we remove adult Chinese Tallow Trees from the bog, opening up the floor of the forest to more sunlight and allowing for more nutrients and growth for native species — including the Louisiana Iris.

Irises are native to Louisiana wetlands — like swamps, marshes, and bayous — and support biodiversity during the spring migratory season. They tend to bloom in clumps in a field all at the same time and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and small insect pollinators. Birds traveling from Mexico and South America to northern locations will rest here for shelter and food. These migratory rest stops and the food available are essential for migratory birds to make it to their final location.

The Grand Isle is also along this migratory path, and another great location for these irises. Partnering with The Nature Conservancy, we’ve transplanted irises from the Grouletta trail to other locations on the Grand Isle.

Are Chinese Tallow Trees all that bad?

No! There are many benefits to the Chinese Tallow Tree in its native environment in East Asia, where it’s been cultivated for many centuries. The problem, like with any species, happens when it’s introduced to a new ecosystem and reduces biodiversity.

Who We Are

The Louisiana Conservation Corps program of American YouthWorks prepares young people, ages 16-35, for careers in environmental conservation and disaster response.

Through paid training, participants impact our country’s urban and rural communities, from local green spaces to National Parks, by completing projects in habitat restoration, disaster response, wildfire mitigation, and conservation and forestry. Serving outdoors together, participants find a sense of adventure, purpose, leadership, community and belonging.

 

Conservation Corps Program