Georgia Invasive Species Task Force

What is an invasive species? An invasive species is any species (including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material capable of propagation) that is not native to a given ecosystem; and whose presence causes economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Some of the invasive species in this brochure are already serious pests in Georgia while some are currently just threats and not yet widespread. Twenty of Georgia’s many invasive weeds are highlighted here. How do invasive species get here? Invasive species are introduced into a new environment, either intentionally or accidentally. Intentional introductions have often been for agricultural or ornamental purposes. Once introduced, they escape from cultivation, or from their aquariums or cages in the case of animals, and become established as viable, self-reproducing populations. Accidental introductions are usually the result of contaminated freight, where individuals or the seeds from invasive species are mixed within normal freight. Are all exotic species invasive? No, actually only a small percent of th