Maine Invasive Plant Management Program: Practice Plan Applications Now Open

July 14, 2023

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's (DACF) Maine Forest Service (MFS) is providing assistance for local governments, municipalities, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and private family woodland owners interested in obtaining Invasive Plant Control Practice Plans (IPCPP) for their woods. The invasive plant management program is administered by the MFS and the Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP).

Funded by a Landscape Scale Restoration Program grant from the USDA Forest Service, financial incentives for IPCPPs are available to public and private woodland owners with ten to one thousand wooded acres in Maine. Incentives are for costs incurred from having a management plan developed by a consultant. The program will reimburse up to 50% of the cost based on the number of acres. Plan incentives will not exceed $2500. The IPCPP provides woodland owners with maps, plant descriptions, treatment recommendations for invasive plants, and the opportunity to speak with natural resource professionals about woodland invasives.

The program's goal is to address invasive plants that choke out native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers in the eligible woodlands. A corps of natural resource professionals trained through the program's Invasive Plant Academy will be qualified to develop the IPCPPs. A list of trained plan preparers is available on the MFS Invasive Plant Management Program web page, Plan Preparer List.

Landowners with approved IPCPPs will also be eligible to apply for the next phase of the program to receive free invasive plant treatment. Treatment applications for 2023 are due August 14, 2023

  • Visit the MFS website for the 2023 IPCPP application. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m., August 14, 2023.
  • Plans are due by 5:00pm, October 23, 2023.
  • Access a list of natural resource professionals eligible to develop IPCPPs.
  • Visit the MFS website to learn more about IPCPP or call MFS, Acting Landowner Outreach Forester, Allyssa Gregory at (207) 441-2895.