Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

Invasive climbing plants, or vines, are spreading rapidly throughout the southeastern United States and the U.S. Caribbean, smothering local vegetation, altering forest structure, increasing infrastructure maintenance costs, and complicating management efforts for natural and working landscapes. Their expansion is influenced by disturbances such as hurricanes, flooding, uprooted trees, landslides, and wildfires, yet information is currently fragmented across jurisdictions, ecosystems, and stakeholders. This project will build a database with information on species status, traits linked to their spread, and the locations of recent disturbances to better understand the causes of vine expansion. The database will also feature maps showing where different species could spread in the future, covering species from the mainland U.S., Puerto Rico, and other parts of the world, categorized by whether they are already present or have not yet been detected in the region. Managers can use these maps to identify areas most at risk for invasive vine spread in coming decades. By assembling a regional database, synthesizing management strategies, and engaging partners, this project will provide a clear framework for detecting and effectively responding to invasive vines. 

This work supports EO 14313 - Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission) by advancing science-based stewardship of natural resources and strengthening the capacity of agencies and communities to safeguard vulnerable ecosystems from biological degradation. This work also supports EO14303 (Restoring Gold Standard Science) and SO3441 (Implementing the Requirements of Executive Order 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science) by strengthening American leadership in adaptation science and providing credible, reliable, and impartial scientific evidence to reduce the economic damages caused by proliferating vines.

Projects supported under this cooperative agreement should advance Administration priorities, including, but not limited to, American energy dominance, critical mineral development, water security, infrastructure resilience, and natural hazard preparedness. Research and activities may incorporate scientific expertise in areas such as hydrology, geology, geospatial science, biosecurity, and near-earth space science, including extreme events such as drought, flooding, wildland fire, coastal erosion, severe storms, and geologic hazards, to develop actionable science, data, and tools that support informed decision-making by resource managers and stakeholders.