BLM Alaska Priority Invasive Plant List
222 W. 7th Avenue #13
Anchorage, AK 99507
United States
The purpose of this instruction memorandum (IM) is to provide consistent implementation-level direction to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive plant species on BLM managed lands. There is a need for a standard set of stipulations and a priority invasive plant list to ensure 1) invasive species requirements are implemented consistently across the state
to protect BLM managed lands; 2) authorized land users are aware of their role in proactive invasive species management; and 3) there is compliance with applicable policy and guidance. This policy applies to external and internal authorized activities and is intended to complement any existing land use plan requirements.
This IM is mission related.
BLM Alaska has developed this list of state-wide priority invasive plant species to help direct invasive species management within AK BLM lands (Table 1). BLM may update this list annually by March 15 to include and prioritize other invasive species of concern to BLM. The BLM Alaska Priority Invasive Plant (PIP) List was developed based upon the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) and Alaska Department of Natural Resources Certified Weed Free Products Program guidance (http://plants.alaska.gov/invasives/weed-free-gravel.htm) with recommendations from the Alaska Weed-Free Material Committee and the University of Alaska, Alaska Center for Conservation Science. The BLM Alaska PIP List includes 32 plants from the Alaska Weed Free Gravel Certification List of Species (NAISMA list) that are currently known to be present in Alaska and adjacent regions, as identified through analysis of known distribution (AKEPIC, 2025 and 2025a) and consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Invasive Species Program Coordinator, University of Alaska Center for Conservation Science, USDA Forest Health Protection program, USDA Agricultural Research Service, US Geological Survey, National Park Service, and University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service (Carlson et al. 2008; Nawrocki et al. 2011).
Table 1. BLM Alaska Priority Invasive Plant List
Scientific Name | Common Name |
Terrestrial Species | |
Arctium minus | common burdock |
Avena fatua | wild oats |
Berteroa incana | hoary alyssum |
Carduus nutans | musk thistle |
Centaurea maculosa | spotted knapweed |
Cirsium arvense | Canada thistle |
Conium maculatum | poison hemlock |
Convolvulus arvensis | field bindweed |
Elymus repens | quackgrass |
Euphorbia esula | leafy spurge |
Galeopsis sp. | hempnettle |
Hesperis matronalis | dame’s rocket |
Hieracium aurantiacum | orange hawkweed |
Hieracium caespitosum | yellow (meadow) hawkweed |
Hypericum perforatum | St. Johnswort |
Leontodon autumnalis | hawkbit/fall dandelion |
Leucanthemum vulgare | oxeye daisy |
Linaria dalmatica | dalmatian toadflax |
Linaria vulgaris | yellow toadflax |
Lythrum salicaria | purple loosestrife |
Melilotus albus, M. officinalis | sweetclover, white sweetclover, yellow sweetclover |
Phalaris arundinacea | reed canarygrass |
Fallopia X bohemica | Bohemian knotweed |
Fallopia convolvulus, syn. Polygonum convolvulus | black bindweed/wild buckwheat |
Fallopia japonica var. japonica | Japanese knotweed |
Fallopia sachalinensis | giant knotweed |
Prunus padus, P.virginiana | European bird cherry, choke cherry |
Ranunculus acris | tall buttercup |
Jacobaea vulgaris | tansy ragwort |
Sonchus arvensis | perennial sowthistle |
Tanacetum vulgare | common tansy |
Verbascum thapsus | common mullein |
Vicia cracca | bird vetch |
Aquatic Species | |
Elodea sp. | waterweed |
Alaska Exotic Plant Information Clearinghouse (AKEPIC). (2025). AKEPIC Database (https://akepic.portal.axds.co/#map). Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska, Anchorage. Accessed (April 1, 2025).
AKEPIC. 2025a. Elodea Survey Web App. (https://arcg.is/TqaWC1). Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska, Anchorage. Accessed (April 1, 2025).
Carlson, M.L., I.V. Lapina, M. Shephard, J.S. Conn, R. Densmore, P. Spencer, J. Heys, J. Riley, and J. Nielsen. 2008. Invasiveness Ranking System for Non-Native Plants of Alaska. USDA Forest Service, R10-TP-143. 218 pp. Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev2_037575.pdf
Nawrocki, T.W., H. Klein, M.L. Carlson, L.A. Flagstad, J. Conn, R. DeVelice, A. Grant, G. Graziano, B. Million, and W. Rapp. 2011. Invasiveness Ranking of 50 Non-Native Plant Species for Alaska. Report prepared for the Alaska Association of Conservation Districts. Alaska Natural Heritage Program, University of Alaska Anchorage. Anchorage, Alaska. 253 pp. Available: https://accs.uaa.alaska.edu/invasive-species/publications/
This IM is effective immediately
This policy is expected to reduce costs to BLM Alaska in the future. Without proactive management of invasive species, costs to BLM associated with invasive species management would likely increase due to the increased spread of unmanaged invasive plant species. Prevention and early detection have proven to be more successful and cost-effective
approaches to managing invasive species than allowing them to establish. Authorized users may incur costs for necessary treatment and control prescriptions.
The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019 amended the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act to provide direction (in 16 USC 666c–1) for each department to develop a strategic plan for protecting water, oceans, coasts, and wildlife from invasive species. This amendment directs the Secretary of the Interior through the BLM to take into consideration the economic and ecological costs of action or inaction during the development of strategic plans. In response, DOI updated Part 524 of the Departmental Manual on Invasive Species Management in 2020 (DOI 524 DM 1), which directs the Bureaus to implement measures to prevent the introduction, establishment, and spread of invasive plant species; detect and rapidly respond to invasive species; and eradicate or control populations of invasive plant species that are established. DOI 524 DM 1 also directs the Bureaus to use best management practices in all activities to reduce risks associated with invasive plant species, which include but are not limited to natural resource management, construction or development, fire management, permitting, and monitoring.
This policy is in conformance with the Integrated Vegetation Management Handbook (H-1740-2), BLM Manual 6100-National Landscape Conservation System Management (2012), and Department Manual on Environmental Quality
Programs Series 31: Part 524 - Invasive Species (2020).
If you have any questions regarding this IM, contact Ann Erickson, BLM Alaska Botany, Forestry, Range Programs Lead, 907-271-1985, [email protected]
This IM has been coordinated with Field and District Offices, AK-930 Division of Resources, AK-940 Lands and Realty, Alaska Fire Service, and HQ-220 Division of Forestry, Rangeland, and Vegetation Resources.