Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

Invasive climbing plants, or vines, are spreading rapidly throughout the southeastern United States and the U.S. Caribbean, smothering local vegetation, altering forest structure, increasing infrastructure maintenance costs, and complicating management efforts for natural and working landscapes. Their expansion is influenced by disturbances such as hurricanes, flooding, uprooted trees, landslides, and wildfires, yet information is currently fragmented across jurisdictions, ecosystems, and stakeholders. This project will build a database with information on species status, traits linked to their spread, and the locations of recent disturbances to better understand the causes of vine expansion. The database will also feature maps showing where different species could spread in the future, covering species from the mainland U.S., Puerto Rico, and other parts of the world, categorized by whether they are already present or have not yet been detected in the region. Managers can use these maps to identify areas most at risk for invasive vine spread in coming decades. By assembling a regional database, synthesizing management strategies, and engaging partners, this project will provide a…