The Terrestrial Plant Rule & A guide to Invasive Plants in Indiana

The Terrestrial Invasive Plant Rule (TPR) becomes enforceable today, April 18, 2020. The rule is a significant milestone and tool in our toolbox to help foster healthy lands and waters that support insects, birds, other wildlife and of course us. In order to protect and manage our wonderful green spaces (our parks, preserves, forests, etc.) we need to manage invasive terrestrial plants. Part of management is to avoid planting an invasive plant, hence the terrestrial plant rule. In order to manage our public and private lands effectively we also need to also be able to identify invasive plants, report them to assess damage and work collaboratively to control them, and use native plants appropriately to help our lands and waters heal.

To enhance efforts to identify invasive plants for mapping and management, the Indiana Invasive Species Council, The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, and the Indiana Native Plant Society have collaborated to create A Guide to the Regulated Terrestrial Invasive Plants Species of Indiana. This field guide covers 49  regulated terrestrial invasive plants in Indiana with pictures and descriptions on how to identify the species, as well as specifics on how to distinguish these invasive species from similar native species. Information on the regulations and how to report violations are also included. This pdf is free to download and a printed version of the field guide will be available for purchase later this year.