Environment DEC
From the October 2007 issue
State Creates New Invasive Species Council
Invasive plants like this black swallowwort overwhelm native varieties if left uncheckedNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis and New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker recently announced the creation of a new council charged with implementing specific initiatives to protect native species and prevent the spread of invasive plants and animals. The New York Invasive Species Council, recently signed into law by Governor Eliot Spitzer, will coordinate statewide efforts to control invasive species.
What are invasive species?
Invasive species are non-native plants and animals that push native species to extinction. Through direct predation and competition for nutrients, these resilient invaders disrupt food webs, alter physical habitats and come to dominate and fundamentally degrade ecosystems. Once introduced, invasive species reproduce and grow in numbers, worsening their influence on ecosystems over time. Common invasive species found in New York State include zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife, giant hogweed and black swallowwort. Other recent new or expanded species discoveries include didymo, the Asian longhorned beetle, and the sirex woodwasp.
"Invasive species pose an ever-growing risk to the health and diversity of our native ecosystems," Commissioner Grannis said. "The establishment of the Invasive Species Council will continue the work begun by the Task Force and will ensure that the recommendations developed with our many partners will be implemented. The council and its advisory committee will enhance our ability to fight this growing threat to New York's biodiversity, food supply, recreation, commerce and industry."
How do they spread?
Rapidly deploying insect traps, when invasive species like the sirex woodwasp are discovered, is one strategy that the council will use to stop such pests from spreadingInvasive species can travel through natural means, via weather patterns, tides and water currents, or migratory animals can carry them. However, human activity - intentional and accidental - very often introduces invasive species into new ecosystems. Invasive species are intentionally introduced by the import of exotic plants or animals for such purposes as aquaculture, landscaping or aquariums. Accidental introductions of invasive species result from many human activities, including contaminated shipping freight, ballast water taken up by ships at sea and released in port, recreational boating, and firewood transported by campers and hikers.
Invasive species have been judged second only to habitat loss as a threat to biodiversity. They also have implications for recreation and human health, dramatically affecting agriculture and the ability to move plants and plant products in domestic and foreign commerce. Federal and state quarantines enacted to stop the spread of invasive pests cost agricultural producers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in lost revenues and increased costs associated with compliance to regulations.
How was the council created and what will it do?
A bill written in the New York State Legislature Environmental Conservation Committee established the council. Committee chairs Senator Carl Marcellino and Assemblyman Bob Sweeny sponsored the bill. The council will:
- assess the nature, scope and magnitude of the impacts caused by invasive species in the state;
- identify actions already taken to prevent, detect, respond rapidly to and control invasive species;
- recommend ways to restore native species and habitat conditions in impacted ecosystems;
- conduct research and develop technologies to prevent new introductions;
- promote public education;
- develop an invasive species management plan;provide input on funding priorities and grant applications, and
- hold a biennial invasive species summit.
The council will be co-chaired by the commissioners of DEC and the Department of Agriculture and Markets. Council members will include the leaders of the departments of Transportation, Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Education, State, the Thruway Authority, Canal Corporation, and the Adirondack Park Agency.
The council will work closely with an advisory committee made up of representatives of a wide range of private, non-profit, educational and governmental organizations.
More Information
See the complete press release for additional details and comments from officials regarding this announcement.
