Knoxville, Ijams Nature Center receive federal grant to battle invasive species

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The City of Knoxville received a $225,000 federal grant to help battle an invasive species.

City officials said invasive plants, such as the invasive bush honeysuckle and privet, have become entrenched in parks and greenways, including at Ijams Nature Center, but with the grant, native species will soon be able to reclaim their home territory again.

The funding will pay for both paid and volunteer crews to strategically thin some of the spots most overrun by invasive species in the city over the next four-and-a-half years.

City of Knoxville Urban Forester Kasey Krouse said he is hopeful that the combined attack – first by professional horticulture crews, then followed by scores of volunteers – will result in 100 acres being liberated from obnoxious, greedy invasive species. Ben Nanny, Ijams’ Conservation Director, said this will represent lots of progress in helping native plants reclaim their territory.

“A hundred acres – that’s a really big number, and it represents tremendous progress,” Nanny said.

Krouse added that the long-term future of many parts of the urban forest are in peril because of the invasive species.

“There is no next generation of dogwoods, redbuds and sugar maples that are coming up because the invasives are out-competing the native vegetation,” Krouse said.

Ijams now has about a dozen Weed Warrior ambassadors, who take on invasives within the nature center. The new funding allows the center to expand upon this.

Krouse said this effort will improve habitat and provide food and shelter for wildlife by promoting a healthier, more diverse urban forest.

“The invasive species work to outcompete our native vegetation,” Krouse said. “If we do nothing, we will lose biodiversity – it’s just a matter of time. That’s why we’re so thankful for this crucial funding provided by the state Division of Forestry through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service and the Inflation Reduction Act grant program.”

The next step in the process is to determine the top priorities for removing the invasive species. Their actual removal is estimated to begin next year.