What is a PRISM?
A Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) is a collaborative effort to control one or more invasive species (whether flora or fauna) within a geographic area.
Other names used in the United States are Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area and Collaborative Weed Management Area.
The work typically involves governmental agencies as well as other groups and individuals, working together either formally or informally.
In Virginia, there are currently three other PRISMs:
Blue Ridge PRISM has been a leader in educational outreach, producing fact sheets about invasive plant species and offering frequent webinars. It spearheaded the Virginia Invasive Plant Coalition, which brings stakeholders together to work on long-term strategies for the state as a whole.
National Capital PRISM is organized under the Metropolitan Council of Governments and focuses primarily on Early Detection/Rapid Response across the DMV, including in Fairfax County.
Northern Neck PRISM began in 2025 and works on educational outreach and site visits to advise landowners.
Fairfax Tree Rescuers PRISM relies on all these groups as we focus on identifying and solving other challenges to invasive plant control in Fairfax County.