The USDA’s National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC) is hosting National Invasive Species Week 2013, from March 3rd to 8th in Washington, DC. The NISIC was created to inform the public and the National Invasive Species Council (NISC). NISIC is preparing several events to inform the public about the threats that non-native species have on our ecosystem:
- Congressional Briefing: How invasive species threaten America’s special places
- Forum on the Politics of Invasion – are invasive species considered to be an important national and international issue?
- National Invasive Species Awards Ceremony
- Workshop: Legal and Policy Issues Containing Aquatic Invasive Species
- Congressional Reception with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
- Invasive Species Advisory Committee – Public Meeting
- Presentation on the invasive potential of bio-energy feedstocks
- Kids Invasive Species Day at the US Botanic Garden
- Invasive Species on the Menu: Asian Carp Fish Fry
- Panel: Invasive Species Impacts on Transportation and Manufacturing
An “invasive species” is defined by Executive Order 13112 an “invasive species” is defined as a species that is: 1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and 2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Invasive species can be plants, animals, and other organisms (e.g., microbes). Human actions are the primary means of invasive species introductions to a new environment. To read more about invasive species, read the white paper.
To learn more about the economic impact of invasive species, see the Economic Impacts page. In addition, there are sections dedicated to getting involved, the government management plans, and the Council.
NISAW partners include: the Weed Science Society of America, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), the Great Lakes Commission (GLC), the Center for Invasive Plant Management, the US Botanic Garden, the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds, the Federal Interagency Committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens, as well as numerous federal, state and local officials and private nonprofit and business groups and individuals.
