Stewardship

Stewardship means caring responsibly for what has been entrusted to us. At Floracliff, this involves managing the land and habitats to support wildlife, improve forest health, and promote biodiversity, helping the community remain resilient as the climate changes

Why is stewardship important?

By caring for nature today, we are caring for generations of life to come. Our hands-on stewardship includes:

  • Remove invasive plants in ecologically important areas.

  • Restore habitats along key waterways for wildlife.

  • Monitor water quality to track ecosystem health and human impacts.

  • Document species to better manage wildlife habitats.

  • Monitor species annually to track population changes.

  • Maintain demonstration gardens for rare plants and education.

  • Keep trails safe and prevent erosion and invasive spread.

  • Offer programs and outreach to support community biodiversity.

  • Document land-use history and artifacts.

Invasive Exotic Species

An exotic species is a non-native plant, animal, or pathogen introduced by humans. Without natural controls, some become invasive-spreading quickly and causing environmental or economic harm. In central Kentucky, invasive plants reduce native diversity, disrupt ecosystems, and harm wildlife. Floracliff staff and volunteers work hard to manage these species, with several of particular concern:

Amur Bush Honeysuckle
(Lonicera maackii)

Bush honeysuckle, introduced from Asia in the late 1800s, spreads rapidly in forests, crowding out native plants and harming wildlife habitat. Its early leafing and dense shade suppress wildflowers, and its berries lack nutrients for birds. Floracliff began removing bush honeysuckle in 2001 and has cleared over 90 acres, using cutting and targeted herbicide treatment.

Wintercreeper
(Euonymus fortunei)

Wintercreeper, introduced from Asia in the late 1800s, is a shade-tolerant vine that forms dense mats, choking out native plants and preventing new growth. Its climbing vines can kill trees and spread rapidly via fruit eaten by wildlife. At Floracliff, we target climbing vines and treat ground vines while managing other invasives.

Garlic Mustard
(Alliaria petiolata)

Garlic mustard, introduced from Europe in the 1800s, spreads rapidly and outcompetes native wildflowers. Its seeds remain viable for up to 10 years and spread easily. Garlic mustard also harms the West Virginia white butterfly, whose caterpillars can’t survive on it. At Floracliff, we pull garlic mustard from February to June, prioritizing sensitive habitats.

Ornamental Flowering Pear—Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)

Callery pear, introduced from Asia in the early 1900s, quickly spreads as birds and mammals disperse its seeds. Cultivars like ‘Bradford’ cross-pollinate, leading to invasive, thorny thickets that outcompete native plants and reduce biodiversity. Floracliff is now working to control the spread of new seedlings in its fields and forests.

Emerald Ash Borer
(Agrilis planipennis)

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive insect from Asia, was found in Fayette County in 2010 and has killed millions of ash trees in North America. Its larvae feed on inner bark, cutting off water and nutrients. Floracliff has treated and protected about 100 ash trees, helping serve as a refuge for native ash as others die in the region.

Other invasive exotic plants

At Floracliff, we manage several other invasive plants that threaten native habitats, including privet, winged burning bush, multiflora rose, Japanese honeysuckle, Japanese stiltgrass, Dahurian buckthorn, tree-of-heaven, Johnson grass, Chinese yam, star-of-Bethlehem, English ivy, and more. Controlling these species helps protect the sanctuary’s biodiversity.
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