JEFFERSON CITY – As public awareness grows about the harmful effects of invasive plants, the Missouri Invasive Plant Council (MoIP) seeks to recognize individuals and groups performing outstanding work detecting and controlling invasive plant species in Missouri with its Invasive Plant Action Award Program. MoIP is accepting award nominations now through June 15, 2024.
Nomination categories are for individual landowners/organizations, group collaborators, and researchers. Self-nomination is welcome; a recommendation by a natural resource professional is required to be eligible.
“There are many individuals and groups carrying out impressive invasive species control in every corner of the state,” says Carol Davit, chair of MoIP and executive director of the Missouri Prairie Foundation. “We want to recognize those doing exemplary work and present them with awards at events of the awardees’ choice to be honored in front of their peers.”
By definition, invasive plants are those not native to a region whose abundance and/or rapid spread harm economic and environmental resources. The MoIP Invasive Plant Action Awards seek to demonstrate how detecting and controlling the spread of invasive plants on Missouri farms, forests, woodlands, prairies, gardens, roadsides and along waterways is wise stewardship.
For more information and to submit nominations, please visit http://moinvasives.org/moip-invasive-plant-action-awards/
About MoIP
The Missouri Invasive Plant Council (MoIP) advocates for making early detection and control of known and potential invasive plants a statewide priority. In 2015, the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! program spearheaded this multi-agency, multi-industry networking and advocacy group to bolster statewide efforts to identify and control the invasive plants that severely impact several sectors of the Missouri economy and native biodiversity. Representatives from the fields of conservation, agriculture, botanical science, ecological services, plant production, horticulture, landscape services and design, and forestry make up the council. MoIP is administered by the Missouri Prairie Foundation.