Removing Invasive Plant Species Helps Restore Kennedy Forest — Forest Park Forever

Images above are a Before and After in Successional Forest, in a section that was cleared during the 23rd annual event in 2022

WHY remove invasive species?

Invasive species are non-native plants and other organisms that thrive in areas where they don’t naturally live, thereby disrupting the structure of diverse, healthy ecosystems. Aggressive plant species out-compete native Missouri flora by growing at different times of the year, reproducing abundantly, blocking sunlight, or altering soil chemistry. The ecosystem can degrade and biodiversity decreases – making the system more vulnerable to disease and stress.

The living world and all its systems are complex, and removing invasive species is only one component of supporting a thriving habitat. However, eliminating plants should never be considered the final step. Continuous stress on a natural community can have long-lasting impacts, so proactive management is better than waiting until the plant has taken over. After removal, the next step to supporting a robust, resistant system is maintaining diversity by replanting with native flora.

WHO can come to the Invasive Removal/Forest Restoration Day?

Individuals, small groups, families and children over 12 are welcome to join us – but registration is required. Many restoration efforts will happen at once, and an adult must supervise children under 18.