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Submodule 10: What's Being Done

An Overview of Agency Activities and How You Can Get Involved

Federal Agency Activities

Established by Executive Order 13112 on February 3, 1999, the National Invasive Species Council (Council) serves as an inter-Departmental body to coordinate a complementary, cost efficient, and effective Federal response to the problems created by invasive species. To facilitate its coordination efforts, the Council created a National Management Plan which lays out agreed upon priorities for responding to invasive species. The Council includes representatives from more than 12 cabinet level Departments and a number of independent agencies; and is led by three co-chairs who are the secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and Interior Departments.

Below is a selective list of federal agencies and departments involved in managing issues related to invasive species. For more information, go to the National Invasive Species Information Center website.

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The USDA has a significant role in national conservation efforts. In this capacity it administrates several agencies related to invasive species management:

Animal and Plant Health inspection Service (APHIS) – APHIS provides leadership in ensuring the health and care of animals and plants. The agency improves agricultural productivity and competitiveness and contributes to the national economy and the public health.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) – NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment.
Research, Education, and Economics (REE) – The REE mission area of USDA is dedicated to the creation of a safe, sustainable, competitive U.S. food and fiber system and strong, communities, families, and youth through integrated research, analysis, and education. Through the following member agencies, REE provides research, analysis, and data to benefit consumers and promote agricultural prosperity and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) – Charged with advancing knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs in the Land-Grant University System and other partner organizations. CSREES doesn't perform actual research, education, and extension but rather helps fund it at the state and local level and provides program leadership in these areas. The agency is actively engaged in the battle against invasive species through leadership in the implementation of the National Invasive Species Management Plan and funding from Section 406 Pest Management Programs and others in the National Research Initiative (NRI). CSREES also has established the National Animal and Plant Diagnostic Laboratory Networks, provides annual Hatch Act funding of Agricultural Experiment Station projects, and administers special grants related to invasive species.
- Agricultural Research Service (ARS) – ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency. Their task is to find solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans. ARS conducts research on a variety of topics, including invasive species, to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and provide information access and dissemination to ensure safe food, optimal nutrition, a competitive and sustainable agricultural economy, healthy natural resources, and economic opportunities for in rural areas. The Exotic and Invasive Weeds Research Unit is responsible for developing methods for managing invasive plant species in rangeland, riparian, and aquatic ecosystems by developing improved weed management systems that are efficient and environmentally safe. ARS also conducts research on how to manage pathogens that pose a risk to agriculture
- Economics Research Service (ERS) – ERS conducts research on invasive species economic issues related to managing invasive pests in increasingly global agricultural markets. Trade is essential to the U.S. agricultural sector, with earnings from U.S. exports accounting for as much as 30 percent of total farm receipts. Increased movement of people and products across international borders creates new risks of introducing invasive species that can damage food and fiber production. The ERS research program focuses on national decision-making concerning invasive species of agricultural significance or affecting, or affected by, USDA programs. USDA currently manages programs affecting the entry and spread of agricultural invasive species which can potentially cause economic losses to consumers, producers and other stakeholders.
- National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) – NASS provides a central location for accessing a variety of information related to agriculture.
Forest Service (FS) – FS sustains the health, diversity and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations, including a large program to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species in forested regions.

Department of Commerce – Through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of Commerce directs environmental stewardship, long-term economic development and responsible use of America’s coastal, ocean and Great Lakes resources and the Sea Grant. Sea Grant is a nationwide network of 30 university-based programs that engages in conducting scientific research, education, training, and extension projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of our aquatic resources, including incursions by invasive plants, aquatic animals, and pathogens. In addition, Commerce coordinates U.S. policies with NAFTA and WTO efforts to minimize global movement of invasive species.

Department of Interior (DOI) – DOI is the nation’s principal conservation agency charged with protecting much of America’s land, providing access to natural resources, offering recreation opportunities, providing wise stewardship of energy and mineral resources, fostering sound use of land and water resources, and conserving and protecting fish and wildlife. Some of its land management agencies that deal with invasive species are;

Healthy forests Initiative: The result of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, this initiative provides the resources to help reduce the risk of catastrophic fire form built up fuel in our nation’s forests.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is responsible for the administration and management of 55.7 million acres of land held in trust by the United States for American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives. The agency develops forestlands, leases assets on these lands, directs agricultural programs, provides educational programs, protects water and land rights, and develops and maintaining infrastructure and economic development.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages 264 million acres of public lands located primarily in the 12 Western States, including Alaska. The agency manages an additional 300 million acres of below ground mineral estate located throughout the country. These lands were valued for the commodities extracted from them, and for their recreational opportunities and the natural, historical, and cultural resources they contain.
The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) mission is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in the interest of the American public. Established in 1902, Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier in the country, and manages 457 dams; its 348 reservoirs have more than 90 million recreation visits annually.
National Park Service (NPS) preserves the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. NPS comprises 388 areas covering more than 84 million acres in 49 States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The agency cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is the only agency of the U.S. Government whose primary responsibility is fish, wildlife, and plant conservation. The Service helps protect a healthy environment for people, fish and wildlife, and helps Americans conserve and enjoy the outdoors and our living treasures. Its major responsibilities are for migratory birds, endangered species, certain marine mammals, and freshwater and anadromous fish.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems. USGS carries out studies on a national scale and sustains long-term monitoring and assessment of natural resources including issue relating to invasive species. The mandate of USGS is to provide information to decision makers at all levels of government and citizens so they can address pressing societal issues.

Department of Defense (DOD): The primary role of DOD regarding invasive species is to keep military installations functional and free of impairment from these species. They are to effectively monitor and control invasion by non-native nuisance plants and other organisms.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) directs the Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, whose mandate is to protect these resources from hazardous materials, including invasive species.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) serves the American public by protecting the health of citizens and providing essential human services. In this role, HHS administrates the following agencies:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the principal U.S. agency for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human services, especially for those people who are least able to help themselves. This includes monitoring non-indigenous infectious diseases.

Department of Homeland Security administrates the Customs and Border Protection Agency, which is responsible for protecting U.S. borders to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the country, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. This includes oversight of the movement of invasive species, especially those potentially used as biological weapons like anthrax and smallpox.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) facilitates efforts against invasive species by providing decision-support tools in the form of Earth observations and predictive models from space research. The agency provides map for monitoring land cover, develops systems to generate predictive maps for invasive species locations, and participates in the development of an on-line Invasive Species Forecasting System to make this information readily available.

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) provides trade policy leadership regarding U.S. policies on the movement of invasive species around the world, and integrates theses with policies from international agreements with organizations such as WTO and NAFTA.

Department of State directs the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB) which participates in directing U.S. trade and other interests around the world.

Department of Transportation (DOT) directs efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species while ensuring transportation safety and the protection and enhancement of the natural environment affected by transportation. The department participates in interagency committees such as the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, the Federal Interagency Committee for Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds, the Native Plants Conservation Initiative, the Interagency Ecosystem Management Task Force, and the Interagency Working Group on Endangered Species. DOT also coordinates with other federal agencies and with state, local, and tribal governments

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) works in agricultural development to support efforts to increase productivity around the world. A major impediment to this goal is infestation of invasive species.

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