Remove Invasive Vines:
SAVE THE TREES!
Free your trees from being overtaken by invasive vines at no cost to you.
Trained CCAN volunteers will come to your residence and remove invasive vines from your trees using simple hand tools.
Wednesday, January 7th & Monday, January 12th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Join the Chesapeake Climate Action Network to learn how you can help us capture data with tree surveys this spring. We want to create the largest and most comprehensive invasive vines survey that the DMV has ever seen, and we need boots on the ground to make it happen!
Join this training, learn how to identify and log the trees you see, and pledge to spend a few hours this winter walking around and collecting data. Once we have the data, we can organize and send volunteers to cut these vines all year long. In this free online training, we will go over:
- Mapping trees using GIS
- How to identify trees being threatened by invasive vines
- How to capture this data using a simple electronic form
- Where and when to survey trees
- How we will use this data to inform program priorities
Monday, January 19th, 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a day of service at Oxon Run Park, hosted by Chesapeake Climate Action Network, DC Greens, Friends of Oxon Run, and Casey Trees. As a part of a nationwide effort, the MLK Day of Service is a great opportunity to give back to our communities, from helping out our neighbors to uplifting and restoring our green spaces.
We will meet at The Well at Oxon Run then volunteers will break up into groups and begin working in the forested area.
You provide the volunteers, we provide all the necessary tools and supplies to remove invasives and care for trees. Participants will receive a hands-on training on site. After learning the tools and techniques, participants will split up into groups and begin working throughout the space.
Saturday, January 24th, 10:00am-1:00pm
Calling all trail stewards! Join the DC Trail Rangers and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network for Bicyclists Against Invasive Vines event series. On the fourth Saturday of each month we meet up at the Fields at RFK lot 6 at 10am for an ecological ride on the trail. We will be clearing invasive vines from our trees and trail corridors while exploring topics such as plant identification, invasive plant management and local wetland ecology.
Each month, we will visit trails througout the city, tackling pesky invasive vines, this is also a great way to spend time learning how the trails connect and how to navigate them .
Free @capitalbikeshare bike rentals and helmets are available. Email us at ranger@waba.org and we’ll get you set up.
Wednesday, January 28th, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Saturday, January 31st, 10:00am – 1:00pm
Join CCAN volunteer leaders from the Riverdale Park Green Team to remove Invasive Vines around the East Riverdale neighborhood.
This event will be a fun mix of door-to-door canvassing and invasive vine removal. We will meet at Riverside Drive Park and spend 30 minutes doing training on vine removal and canvassing. From there we will break into pairs and head to a list of pre-surveyed residences in the area to offer vine removal for residents.
We will focus on non-native invasive vines including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) and English ivy (Hedera helix). Please wear long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes. Instructions and tools will be provided, so just bring yourself and a good attitude! A reminder email will be sent out the day before with detailed instructions on where to meet.
CCAN is partnering with Casey Trees to tackle invasive vines on both private property and public lands in Prince George’s County and DC.
Our Goal is to mobilize volunteers in disadvantaged communities to save thousands of trees, connect with community members, and empower residents to take ownership of their local trees.
Non-native invasive plant species, particularly vines, pose a significant threat to trees. Trees provide countless benefits to both people and wildlife, including sequestering carbon!
- Help to filter air and water
- Control stormwater
- Conserve energy
- Provide habitat
- Reduce noise
- Add economic value to communities
DIY: Learn How to Remove Invasive Vines with This Video!
Can’t wait to get started saving trees before one of our events?
Watch this video to learn how to remove invasive vines on your own (or with a friend or three!)
You’ll learn how to identify English Ivy and the proper steps to remove it.
Our Events:
Park events: Join these if you’ve never removed invasive vines before and want to learn how! We will host park events on a monthly basis. This is an opportunity to get trained in invasive vine removal and help out ecosystems in our local green spaces
Door-to-door events: These will be the beating heart of our program. We will be heading out on foot every other week to knock on doors and remove invasive vines from private residences. This is an opportunity to engage in conversations, educate the public, and provide a much-needed service to community members. These are also a fantastic way to get your steps in! Please attend a park event first so we can train you to safely and effectively remove invasive vines.
Want to Get Involved With CCAN's Invasive Vines Program?
Request Invasive Vine Removal
Meet Meredith Prescott: CCAN's Invasive Vines Manager
“In my time working in DC parks, I have built trails, planted trees, installed countless erosion control structures, and even constructed a boardwalk or two. However, there has been no project that is both rewarding and low-maintenance like invasive species removal. It’s a tangible, hands-on way to make a noticeable difference in a short time and a great way to build community around outdoor work. We may not be able to fix the systemic issues that have gotten us to this point in the climate crisis, but we can all go outside and tackle those invasive vines one by one. And in the face of massive biodiversity loss at a global level, it is more necessary than ever.
I am thrilled to kick off this new chapter with CCAN, reigniting this volunteer program and working towards making every green space accessible and thriving. Every vine pulled is a step towards a greener, more equitable world. Let’s get to work!”
Read the full blog post here:
Resources:
- Learn about the threat of invasive vines
- Learn how you can remove invasive vines
- Download the Invasive Vines Handout in English
- Download the Invasive Vines Handout in Spanish
This project is sponsored through a partnership between CCAN and Casey Trees, and is funded in part by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
