About INHABIT

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Invasive species cost the United States an estimated \$21 billion annually, making effective management a national priority. INHABIT, developed through a scientist-practitioner partnership, has become a primary geographic resource for invasive plant management. It is used by federal agencies such as the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, US Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service, and US Amy Corps of Engineers, as well as by state, county, and private land managers. The tool supports three primary operational uses:

1. Guiding field crews to search for new weed infestations;
2. Generating site-specific watch lists of priority invasive species for land managers; and
3. Informing regional prioritization of control efforts.

INHABIT's success stems from its practical design, developed in collaboration with land managers, its advanced machine learning models, and its frequent updates.

Ongoing Research

Current efforts fall into three categories:

• Maintenance, including adding new species, updating observations, and improving web services;
• Operationalizing new features, such as integrating aquatic invasive species data and incorporating geographic information on priority management sites;
• Scoping future capabilities, including mapping the extent of biocontrol programs and identifying key intervention points like marinas or docks that facilitate the spread of aquatic weeds.

These additions will enable INHABIT to provide actionable guidance on where management efforts can be most effective, helping decision-makers maximize impact and reduce long-term costs associated with invasive species.