Conservation Scouts

Preventing the next wave of invasive plants

A woman crouching among rocks and purple flowers in a forested area, holding a smartphone and taking a photo, wearing a white sun hat, striped sleeveless top, and black shorts.

Calling All Hikers:
Join Blue Ridge PRISM’s Conservation Scouts

See it. Snap it. In just seconds, you can use your smartphone to help us gather data on newly arrived invasive plants. No formal training required. Use your choice of iNaturalist, EDDMaps, or Wildspotter apps — all FREE — and be an Eco-Hero while you’re out enjoying nature!

Early Detection Rapid Response “EDRR”

is the future of invasive plant control, and the future is now.

When it comes to invasive plants, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Detecting and removing newly arrived invasive plant species — BEFORE they become a full-scale infestation — is the only opportunity for eradication.

Once a new invasive plant achieves critical mass within a geography, our only options are control and management.

Here’s how YOU can help prevent the next kudzu.

It’s as easy as 1 - 2 - 3.

  • A person holding a smartphone in a forest, taking a photo of trees with sunlight filtering through the leaves. The app on the phone shows an icon of a camera and sparkles, indicating a plant or animal identification feature.

    1

    Upload your choice of app — iNaturalist, EDDMaps, or Wildspotter. All FREE to use.

  • Mobile app screen showing a nature observation app with user taylor25262. Displays total observations of 307 and 87 species. Features plant and butterfly photographs with labels: Kudzu, Chinese Pennisetum, Monarch, and Chinese Pennisetum. There are navigation icons at the bottom for Menu, Explore, Me, and Activity.

    2

    Create your account.

  • Camera screen showing green ivy leaves with instructions to point camera at an animal, plant, or fungus.

    3

    Hit the trail and take photos of any EDRR invasive plants that you find.

The data gathered by Conservation Scouts will inform our trained and certified EDRR Conservation Rangers, whose members will coordinate eradication work.

Map with a popup showing a plant called Incised Fumewort (Corydalis incisa) near Sperryville, VA, with details about its research grade and a photo of the plant.
Close-up of a ground covering with green, purple, and brown foliage, featuring a small purple flower and some dried leaves and twigs.

EDRR Invasive Plants
in Virginia

See it. Snap it.

A person holding a smartphone taking a photo of white flowers in a green outdoor setting.

Be an Eco-Hero.
Join PRISM’s Conservation Scouts today.

Sign up for our EDRR alerts

We will only email you when we receive notice of a newly arrived invasive plant.

A man with tattoos on his arms, wearing a camouflage bucket hat, a white t-shirt, and camouflage pants, is taking a photo of a bird in a tree with his smartphone. He has a black backpack and is standing outdoors in a park with green trees.