Environment DEC
From the March 2007 issue
First Statewide Conference Held on Invasive Plants
In early February, the Invasive Plant Council of New York State (IPC) held its first statewide conference titled, "Invasive Plants on the Horizon and More." The conference brought together partners from around the state to exchange information and further efforts to combat the threat of invasive species. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) sponsored the conference.
When oriental bittersweet climbs high up on trees, the increased weight can lead to uprooting and blow-over during high winds and heavy snowfalls
Invasive Plant Council
The Invasive Plant Council is a not-for-profit organization that grew out of an ad hoc group of agencies and organizations incorporated in 1999 to provide education about invasive plant issues and to coordinate and guide management of invasive plants in New York State. Today, the IPC-which planned and organized the conference-provides an information clearinghouse for invasive plant identification, research and management.
NYS Invasive Species Task Force
The New York State Invasive Species Task Force, co-chaired by DEC and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, was created to assesses the nature, scope and magnitude of the environmental, ecological, agricultural, economic, recreational and social effects of invasive species in the state. It includes representatives from a number of state agencies, as well as representatives from Cornell University, New York Sea Grant, The Nature Conservancy, the New York State Farm Bureau and the Empire State Marine Trades Association.
Conference Emphasis and Sessions
The conference emphasized early detection and rapid response, which are essential components for keeping our natural resources safe from the threat of new invasive plants, as well as pests and diseases. It included sessions on: public perceptions and education; volunteers and partnerships; monitoring and early detection; surveys and inventories; nuisance aquatic plants; invasive animals and food chain relationships; regulation, and control successes and tools available to weed managers, including biological control and pesticides.
Related Links
Invasive Species Task Force
