The Pennsylvania Governor’s Invasive Species Council highlighted the importance of protecting native plants, insects, and animals during the fifth annual Pennsylvania Native Species Day in the East Wing Rotunda of the State Capitol today.
The Department of Agriculture-led advisory council brings state agencies, local governments, and environmental organizations together to make recommendations and spearhead strategies to tackle invasive species threats to our economy and environment and promote benefits of nurturing native plants and animals.
Council member agencies shared the importance of Native Species Day and highlighted how their respective departments were investing in a sustainable future for Pennsylvania’s ecosystems.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture continues to invest in science-based solutions that protect native ecosystems, safeguard agricultural resources, and strengthen the Commonwealth’s resilience against invasive species and emerging threats.
“Pennsylvania agriculture depends on healthy ecosystems and thriving native species – from pollinators necessary to produce crops to native plants that protect soil and water quality,” said PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Native Species Day is an opportunity to celebrate the natural resources that sustain our farms and communities and to reaffirm our commitment to conservation, stewardship, and environmental resilience across the Commonwealth.”
The Department is also leading efforts to address emerging agricultural pests, including the destructive Phorid fly that threatens Pennsylvania’s mushroom industry. Through more than $627,000 in research investments and a new $1 million grant program, Pennsylvania is helping growers implement environmentally responsible, science-based pest management practices that protect crops while minimizing impacts on surrounding communities and ecosystems. Recently, the Administration announced two research grants of more than $366,000 awarded to The Pennsylvania State University College of Agriculture Sciences to study control measures for mushroom flies and lanternflies.
The Department’s commitment to healthy ecosystems extends beyond pest management. In March 2026, Pennsylvania invested more than $5.5 million in projects designed to improve soil health, restore waterways, plant trees, expand silvopasture systems, and reduce nutrient runoff throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These projects build on broader conservation successes that have resulted in nearly 945 miles of streamside forest buffers being planted and approximately 1.5 million trees added across Pennsylvania in the past two years alone.
