A total of $140,000 is available through the program to reimburse landowners, organizations and municipalities across Texas for 75% of eligible invasive plant treatment or removal costs, up to $7,000 per landowner.
Texas A&M Forest Service is launching a new cost-share program to help Texans manage invasive plants on their property.
The Texas Invasive Plant Solutions Cost-Share Program will begin accepting applications Sept. 1. A total of $140,000 is available through the program to reimburse landowners, organizations and municipalities across Texas for 75% of eligible invasive plant treatment or removal costs, up to $7,000 per landowner.
“Invasive plants are non-native plants that can negatively affect the economy, environment or human health,” said Lindsey Stone, Texas A&M Forest Service regional forest health coordinator. “In forest ecosystems, invasive plants can spread rapidly and compete with native vegetation for resources.”
Applications will be accepted until available funding is exhausted. All approved treatments and removals must be completed before June 1, 2027, to be eligible for reimbursement.
“When introduced to new environments, invasives can outcompete native species, disrupt ecosystems and cause significant ecological and economic damage,” said Stone. “This new cost-share program will help landowners remove unwanted invasives to improve overall forest health.”
The program supports several methods of invasive plant management, including mechanical removal, herbicide application and prescribed burning. Mechanical methods physically remove vegetation through practices such as mowing, cutting or using heavy machinery. Chemical treatments use herbicides to kill or suppress invasive plants, while prescribed burning can reduce populations of some invasive plants and promote the growth of native species.
The most effective approach can vary depending on the invasive species, property and site conditions. Program participants will work with their local Texas A&M Forest Service forester or woodland ecologist to develop a treatment plan and verify successful completion of the approved work.
Personal labor costs and individual items exceeding $5,000 are not eligible for reimbursement.
For more information about the Texas Invasive Plant Solutions Cost-Share Program, visit tfsweb.tamu.edu/grants-financial-assistance/landowner-grants/texas-invasive-plant-solutions-cost-share-program/.
Article source and photo credit: Texas A&M Forest Service Communications
