Following a successful pilot program, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved the Invasive Plant Species Management Program during its June 17, 2025, meeting. The program aims to promote awareness of and removal of non-native invasive plant species that are negatively impacting the local economy and ecosystems. The county is partnering with the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District (LSWCD) to administer the program, which will begin this fall.
The program will offer guidance and funding to eligible landowners to promote and implement invasive plant removal projects that also empower residents and property owners to identify, control and eradicate invasive plants. Once funded, program participants will monitor and maintain project areas for the duration of the three-year project.
Invasive plant species are defined as species intentionally or accidentally introduced by human activity into a region in which they did not evolve and cause harm to natural resources, economic activity or humans. Invasive plants typically thrive, resulting in threats to Virginia’s natural areas, landscapes and economy.
More than 30 invasive plants have been found in Virginia’s Piedmont region. Some of the most common invasive plans in Loudoun County are:
- Autumn Olive
- Bradford Pear
- Chinese Privet
- English Ivy
- Garlic Mustard
- Japanese Barberry
- Japanese Honeysuckle
- Japanese Stiltgrass
- Sericea Lespedeza
- Tree-of-Heaven
During the past three years, the county has been working with key stakeholders such as Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance, Blue Ridge Prism, Virginia Cooperative Extension – Loudoun and the LSWCD to assess pilot projects to inform this new program development. Loudoun is one of the first local governments in the region to develop a program that seeks to engage landowners and residents on invasive species in an effort to remove existing invasive species and reduce the planting of new invasives through increased community awareness. Learn more about the new program in the June 17, 2025, staff report, Invasive Plan Species Management Program (PDF).
More information about addressing the invasive plants problem in Loudoun County is available at loudoun.gov/InvasivePlants.
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