Invasive species disrupt local ecosystems, damage habitats, reduce biodiversity, and create costly long-term impacts for our communities. From forests and wetlands to neighborhood parks and waterways, the health of our natural spaces depends on awareness, early action, and informed stewardship.

That’s why National Invasive Species Awareness Week matters — and why we invite you to celebrate and learn with Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Join us to discover how invasive species spread, how they affect the places we value, and what simple steps you can take to protect native plants and wildlife. Together, we can turn knowledge into action and make a lasting difference right where we live.

Tues Feb. 24th: Early Detection Invasive Species Webinar

6:00-7:00 pm ET, online  

Join us for a webinar on early detection, rapid response invasive species found in southern Maryland. Early detection species are ones that have not become fully established in an area and have a higher chance of successful eradication if tackled early. 

Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Q-MVNNFMT7iiw_MyN0E1BA#/registration 

Wed Feb. 25th: Invasive Species 101 Virtual Training

6:00-8:00 pm ET, online 

Take the first step to becoming a certified Weed Warrior for M-NCPPC’s Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County. In this online training, we will cover basic information about invasive species, what it means to be a Weed Warrior, and how to identify and manage common invasive vine species. 

Registration: https://pgparks.samaritan.com/custom/1543/opp_details/232547 

Thurs Feb. 26th: Invasive Species Trivia

6:00-7:30 pm ET, online 

Test your invasive species knowledge with a fun session of invasive species trivia on Kahoot! Using a secondary device, you will get a chance to answer questions online. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners. Registration is limited to 50 people. 

Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1BdIB1sLQDyjnvtZqzM-xg 

Fri Feb. 27th: Invasive Species Removal Event

10:00-12:00 pm ET

Join the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and M-NCPPC as we tag-team invasive plant removal at Browning’s Grove Park in Riverdale. We’ll be focusing on invasive vines and shrubs to help beautify the park and save the trees. 

Registration: https://actionnetwork.org/events/invasive-vine-removal-at-brownings-grove-park-4/ 

If you have any questions about events, please reach out to Kerry Wixted: kerry.wixted@pgparks.com