PA Environment Digest Blog: State Agencies Highlight Program To Replace Invasive Species With Native Plants To Celebrate May 20 PA Native Species Day At Cumberland County Conservation District

Sunday, May 11, 2025

State Agencies Highlight Program To Replace Invasive Species With Native Plants To Celebrate May 20 PA Native Species Day At Cumberland County Conservation District

On May 9, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined officials from across the Shapiro Administration to spotlight efforts to combat invasive species and restore native ecosystems during the Invasive Replace-ive event hosted by the Governor’s Invasive Species Council at the Cumberland County Conservation District.

The event brought together leaders from DCNR, Department of Agriculture, Game Commission, and Fish and Boat Commission to highlight how replacing invasive plants with native species helps restore habitat, protect wildlife, and promote biodiversity.

Participants received native plants to support restoration efforts in their own landscapes — part of a series of five Invasive Replace-ive events held across the Commonwealth this spring, all of which quickly reached capacity.

These events reflect Governor Shapiro’s commitment to protecting Pennsylvania’s natural resources, engaging communities, and fostering healthier ecosystems across the state.

This week’s event also builds momentum for Pennsylvania Native Species Day, which will be celebrated statewide on May 20, 2025.

The Shapiro Administration encourages local communities, organizations, and residents to host their own events throughout May to raise awareness and celebrate the vital role native species play in sustaining ecosystems.

“Native species are vital to healthy ecosystems in Pennsylvania,” said Secretary Dunn.

“When invasive plants take hold, they disrupt food chains and leave wildlife with fewer resources to survive. Through programs like Invasive Replace-ive, we’re not only removing harmful species — we’re rebuilding natural systems that support pollinators, wildlife, and people.”

"Pennsylvania is home to 480 species of native birds and mammals, all of which depend on native ecosystems to survive,” said Timothy R. Haydt, Director, Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management, PGC. “Invasive species disrupt these ecosystems statewide highlighting the importance of working with agency partners and the public to ensure healthy native habitats for wildlife now and in the future.”

“Invasive trees and shrubs take over farm fields, landscapes, and forests, choking out native species and harboring ticks and harmful pests like spotted lanternflies,” said PDA Deputy Secretary Fred Strathmeyer, Jr. “Replacing invasives with beneficial natives is one way homeowners can eliminate threats to their farming neighbors and attract pollinators that will continue to benefit farms and beautify Pennsylvania landscapes for years to come.”

“Native species are an essential part of life in Pennsylvania, including in our aquatic ecosystems,” said Tim Schaeffer, Executive Director, PFBC. “These native fish, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and plants bring our waters to life, and where managed and protected responsibly, provide incredible recreational value and sustenance. Many of these delicate species are also nature’s best indicators of clean water, which is beneficial to everyone."

Ways to Celebrate Native Species Day:

-- Hosting or participating in a native species planting event

-- Organizing or joining a guided nature hike

-- Taking part in an invasive species removal event

-- Attending a workshop or webinar on native species and ecosystem restoration

-- Planting native species in your yard

Organizations and individuals planning events for Native Species Day are invited to share their activities through a brief online survey.

Submitted events may be featured on DCNR’s website and shared to inspire others to take part.

To learn more about the Invasive Replace-ive Program, Native Species Day, and how you can participate, visit the Governor’s Invasive Species Council website.

If you’re unsure whether a tree or shrub on your property is invasive, DCNR has experts that can help. There are service foresters available in every county. Contact yours today.

As more people request native species, they become easier to find and identify at nurseries. DCNR has pulled together a list of opportunities and places throughout the state that specialize in native plant species.

Through a new online form, Pennsylvanians can now make electronic donations to the Keystone Tree Fund, which supports grants for tree plantings in communities and streamside buffers in the Commonwealth.

The 2025 Pennsylvania Invasive Replace-ive Program is funded by the U.S. Forest Service and made possible through partnerships with DCNR, the Department of Agriculture, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program, and Pennsylvania Sea Grant.

Click Here for video and photos from the event.

Click Here for the state agency announcement.

Resource Links:

-- PA iMapInvasives Program: Replace Your Invasive, Non-Native Plants, Shrubs With Native Plants At 5 Upcoming Give-Away Events Starting May 3

-- WHYY: New Book By Doug Tallamy Urges Everyone To Put Native Plants In Their Yards

-- Pollinator Gardens: Help Encourage Ecological Diversity In Your Own Backyard [PaEN]

-- Penn State Watershed Friendly Certification Program Expands To Large And Small Properties, Apartments [PaEN]

-- Penn State Master Gardeners Certification As Pollinator Friendly Garden

-- Pollinator Vehicle License Plate Now Available From PennDOT To Support Pollinator Habitat Fund [PaEN]