Invasive Species Defined

What's Being Done

 National Invasive Species Information Center

Submodule 1: Introduction

Now, the Good News…

Fortunately, there is good news in the battle to prevent and control infestations of invasive species. Scientists around the country are sounding the alarm about the invasive species crisis and people are starting to listen. The challenge is in gaining the attention of public policy makers as evidenced by the sporadic legislation and deficient allocation of financial resources to address the problem. In 1999, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13112 which created an interagency, the National Invasive Species Council, to better coordinate Federal agencies response to invasive species. The Council helps coordinate the activities for several departments and agencies involved in the control of invasive species. In addition, the Federal Interagency Weed Committee was formed to coordinate invasive plant control and eradication activities.

Many federal, state, and local governmental agencies and some private organizations have taken on the task of educating the public about invasive species and the problems they create. This has triggered a groundswell of interest by private citizens and has increased participation in activities that control the introduction and spread of invasive species. As people in general become aware of the magnitude of this problem, they are more likely to support the funding of invasive species control and eradication efforts.

There have been many success stories in invasive species control and eradication in the US. Highlighted below are three examples of these successes:

The Asian Longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) is attacking shade trees in the eastern and midwestern U.S. Many valuable shades trees have been cut down in an effort to thwart the establishment of this insect. USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists have been studying the beetle in its native China. They have developed an artificial lure/artificial tree attractant system that could be used by state and Federal agencies in the detection and monitoring of the beetle, and in the development of attract-and-kill strategies for its control.

 

At the Lake Mead National Recreation Area along the shores of Lakes Mead and Mojave, there are many miles tamarisk or salt cedar (Tamarix spp.) thickets. Workers with the National Park Service have successfully restored stands of native trees along eighteen spring drainages by the eradication of tamarisk. They were success at achieving revegetation at six sites by transplanting native trees. In addition, they developed and refined four effective tamarisk control methods. (photo courtesy USGS)

 

The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), which invaded the Great Lakes in the early 1900’s, has been responsible for drastic reductions in several species of native fish in this water system. Using lampricides that have been shown to be nontoxic or to have little effect on native plants and animals, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and its agents have been able to achieve some control of the lamprey population in the Great Lakes region. (photo courtesy USGS)

Although these successes will never be enough to eliminate the problems caused by invasive species, they are evidence that we can make progress in controlling these invaders and in decreasing their rate of introduction into the U.S.