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Our Mission
FIRA is a grassroots, all-volunteer organization that brings together homeowner, citizen, and condo associations to advocate for a healthier ecosystem in Fairfax County by saving trees and promoting biodiversity through the removal of invasive plants and the planting of natives.
Advocacy Methods
- Build an impactful coalition of neighborhood associations
- Meet with county supervisors and other county employees
- Provide public comments at Board of Supervisors meetings
- Meet and correspond with state legislators
Advocacy Proposals
- Offer incentive programs for the owners of private properties, such as matching grants for communities to treat their common open space
- Advocate for needed legislative changes at the state level
- Develop the needed workforce
- Find funding sources for county-owned spaces beyond taxpayers’ money
- Create a vigorous public education campaign
- Encourage nurseries to move away from the sale of invasive plants and boost native alternatives instead
- Leverage volunteer labor to maximize effectiveness
- Collaborate with other public entities such as VDOT, railroads, etc.
INTERESTED IN DOING STEWARDSHIP AND NETWORKING WITH OTHER CONCERNED RESIDENTS? Go to https://www.fairfaxprism.org
JOIN US
Ready for your neighborhood association
to join the coalition?
Have your neighborhood association
president complete the form.
Endorsing Organizations
On a global basis…the two great destroyers of biodiversity are, first habitat destruction and, second, invasion by exotic species.
E.O. Wilson
Our Team
FIRA Founder/Organizer
Wendy Cohen has been engaged in tree plantings, invasive plant removal, and litter cleanups in the area for many years while volunteering for a number of different local organizations. She enjoys exploring the parks in Fairfax County and beyond, though finds it hard to see so many trees overrun by invasive plants. As a retired teacher and Fairfax Master Naturalist, she enjoys educating others about the invasive plant crisis. In the summer, she reluctantly shares her vegetable garden with the deer, raccoon, and birds….
FIRA Founder/Organizer
Rekha Dolas has always been interested in conservation, living sustainably and protecting the environment. She has been volunteering for Plant NoVA Natives in various capacities for the last five years. She hopes to help the community while volunteering as a Fairfax Master Naturalist, and plant more trees as a Fairfax Tree Steward. When her three children start asking about whether a plant is native or not, she considers that a win! It is even sweeter when her children watch their electricity usage, thrift their clothes, make their own meals and lament the lack of public transport in the US! She enjoys exploring the many beautiful parks in Northern Virginia with her dog while plotting revenge on the abundant invasive plants along the trails.
FIRA Founder
Ines Nedelcovic has been crowing about the perils of climate change since the early 2000’s. Six years ago she retired and moved back to Fairfax County where she has done more than crow. She planted a pollinator garden in her front yard and another one in a common area with her HOAs landscape committee. She became a Virginia Master Naturalist and has devoted her volunteer hours to the restoration of habitats in Northern Virginia by removing invasive plants and planting native plants, rescuing trees and protecting the wildlife population. Ecosystems can absorb as much as 50% of anthropogenic greenhouse gases so her crow these days has a sense of agency.
FIRA Fairfax Invasive Removal Alliance 