When the Climate Shifts, Invasives Move In

Northern Virginia is no stranger to the extreme effects of climate change, experiencing everything from longer, hotter summers to record-breaking snowfall within a single day (The Woodgrove Outlander, 2025). In other years, we observe the opposite, but regardless of temperature, the seasons have shifted to extremes at both ends. These dramatic shifts in seasonal patterns create ideal conditions for invasive species to spread and intensify their impact. Invasive species are already a growing and significant issue in Virginia, costing the state an estimated $1 billion in damages, agricultural losses, and management expenses

(University of Richmond, 2015). Research shows that invasive species often respond more successfully than native species to the environmental disturbances accelerated by climate change (USDA Climate Hubs, n.d.). As these pressures intensify, community-driven conservation efforts have become increasingly important, and Northern Virginia has responded with strong cross-county partnerships and public engagement. 

Climate change is reshaping the region’s environment in very measurable ways. Richmond’s average temperature has increased by 2.8°F since 1970, a rise greater than the national average, and heavy rainfall events have increased by more than 70% since the 1950s (NOAA; George Mason University Center for Climate Science). These changes accelerate erosion, flooding, and ecosystem stress, all of which create openings for invasive species to take hold. Longer warm seasons also mean that ticks and mosquitoes remain active for more of the year, leading to rising rates of Lyme disease and West Nile virus. Prolonged droughts weaken native vegetation while favoring heat- and drought-tolerant invasive species, and more frequent storm damage results in soil disturbance and canopy gaps that invasives can exploit more quickly than native plants. 

These shifting environmental conditions directly benefit several invasive species already established in Northern Virginia. The northern snakehead, an aggressive predatory fish from China and eastern Russia, thrives in warming waters and can breathe air, enabling it to survive out of water for days. This ability, combined with its rapid reproduction, has enabled it to outcompete sport fish such as bass throughout the Potomac River watershed (USGS). The spotted lanternfly is another species gaining ground as winters grow milder. Warmer temperatures increase egg survival and extend feeding periods, allowing lanternflies to inflict greater damage on grapevines, fruit trees, and hardwoods (USDA APHIS). Highly adaptable invasive plants, such as tree-of-heaven, flourish in degraded, drought-stressed environments and serve as hosts for spotted lanternflies, thereby accelerating their spread. Meanwhile, the emerald ash borer continues to devastate ash trees across Virginia, with warmer winters allowing more larvae to survive and intensifying statewide ash tree decline (Virginia Department of Forestry).  

More concerning, some invasive plants directly contribute to climate change. Studies have found that dense mats of kudzu and Japanese knotweed increase soil carbon emissions, releasing greenhouse gases at higher rates than native-dominated soils. Kudzu invasion releases carbon stored in native soils, while knotweed-dominated soils lose carbon more rapidly through oxidation, creating a feedback loop that amplifies warming (ScienceDaily). These impacts reveal how deeply intertwined climate change and invasive species have become. 

The consequences of these changes extend far beyond individual species. When invasives take over a landscape, they often form monocultures that eliminate biodiversity. Native plants disappear, and the wildlife that depends on them declines or relocates, leaving ecosystems fragmented and weakened. Without diverse tree canopies, urban areas heat more quickly and lose vital natural cooling. Without native root systems, erosion increases and stormwater is absorbed less efficiently, which is necessary to prevent flooding during periods of excessive rainfall. Forests and wetlands that once stored carbon and buffered extreme weather become less effective as climate regulators. This combination of ecological degradation and climatic instability creates a cycle in which climate stress fuels invasives, and invasives, in turn, further weakens ecosystem resilience. 

Across Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth, a growing number of initiatives are addressing these challenges. Virginia’s Invasive Species Management Plan restricts the sale and planting of high-risk invasive plants, requires tradespeople to notify homeowners when invasive species are included in landscaping proposals, and authorizes trained volunteers to use supervised herbicide treatments on public lands. Plant NOVA Natives continues to lead outreach efforts that support residents, community associations, and local businesses in transitioning to native landscaping. NVCT hosts regular invasive plant removal events and habitat restoration days at preserves such as Terborgh Terrace Garden and Little Hunting Creek, supporting long-term ecosystem recovery. County park systems in Fairfax, Arlington, and Alexandria operate large-scale volunteer programs that target invasive plants throughout public parks and natural areas. State and federal agencies—including the Virginia Department of Forestry, USDA APHIS, and the U.S. Forest Service—conduct biocontrol releases, monitor the spread of invasive species, and install climate-resilient native plantings. 

One organization at the center of this work is NVCT. We use advanced conservation mapping to assess projected sea-level rise, increased flooding, and other climate threats, enabling land protection efforts to be strategically focused on the most vulnerable areas. As the only organization in Northern Virginia permanently protecting lands and waters for all time, NVCT ensures that these conserved landscapes remain resilient buffers against climate impacts—preventing future development that could exacerbate flooding, erosion, and the intrusion of invasive species.

NVCT’s conservation approach also addresses the human dimensions of climate change. By prioritizing the protection of forests, riparian corridors, and urban green spaces, NVCT helps expand and preserve tree canopy in areas where the Urban Heat Island effect poses growing risks to vulnerable populations. Protected lands and wetlands also function as natural stormwater infrastructure, absorbing and slowing runoff during increasingly intense rainfall events. In addition, NVCT supports species monitoring—such as tracking Great Blue Herons and rare plants like Small Whorled Pogonia—to protect active populations and assess how climate stressors affect local ecosystems over time. These long-term protections form a critical foundation for resisting both climate-driven degradation and the spread of invasive species.

Invasive species and climate change amplify one another’s adverse effects. Disturbances caused by extreme weather create ideal conditions for invasives to establishthemselves, while longer warm seasons extend breeding and growing periods for many invasive plants and animals. These pressures accelerate the decline of native ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, and undermine the natural defenses that help our landscapes withstand floods, heat waves, and droughts. Yet Northern Virginia is meeting these challenges with innovation, collaboration, and community involvement. By planting native species, participating in local habitat restoration, reporting sightings of harmful invasives, keeping gear clean, and encouraging neighbors and community groups to do the same, residents play a vital role in strengthening the region’s natural resilience. Each small action, multiplied across thousands of homes and neighborhoods, helps ensure that our forests, waterways, and wildlife endure for generations to come.