About Us
Photo: Japanese Stiltgrass invading a forest. Courtesy of Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program
Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) is Virginia’s first Cooperative Weed Management Area.
Founded in 2014 as a volunteer-driven project of the Shenandoah National Park Trust, PRISM became a stand-alone nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity in 2020. Since then, we have grown to become the statewide leader in invasive plant education, training, and advocacy. We are small but mighty, with an expert staff dedicated to helping you reverse the spread and ecological impact of invasive plants on the land you steward.
Our Mission, or “Core Purpose,” is to improve the health of our natural world for future generations. We are dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of our shared natural heritage.
Our Core Values
Collaboration
We work as a team and with partners: we know that we are stronger and more capable together.
People-centric
We treat people with respect and fairness, we strive for balance and connection, and we support individuals’ growth.
Creativity/Innovation
We boldly try new things, measure results, and learn what works best.
Scientific rigor
We use the best available science and a data-based approach.
Integrity
We do what we say we are going to do.
Our Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)
In 25 years, Blue Ridge PRISM and our partners will reverse the spread of invasive plants in Virginia.
Where we work
Blue Ridge PRISM Inc is the first Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) headquartered in Virginia. There are approximately 100 CWMAs in the U.S., mostly in the western part of the country.
As with its western counterparts, Blue Ridge PRISM is a collaborative partnership between land stewards and public and private partners. We work together in a coordinated fashion over a wide geographical area to address the threats of invasive species and to restore native habitats.
Our “boots on the ground” work currently serves Albemarle, Augusta, Clarke, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Nelson, Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham, and Warren counties, and we serve the entire state of Virginia and beyond through online education, training, and advocacy.
