For Release: Wednesday, September 12, 2007

State Creates New Invasive Species Council

Council to Implement Measures That Will Combat Threats to Native Species

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis and New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today 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.

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, thus exacerbating 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."

Commissioner Hooker said, "For years now, we have actively sought to detect and contain exotic invasive species as they pose a significant threat to the viability of our farms, not to mention our environment. Early discovery and detection is key to eradicating these pests, and I look forward to working with the entire Council, exploring the invasive species issue, identifying the most serious pests to New York and providing guidance for effective control and management."

Invasive species can travel through natural means, via weather patterns, tides and water currents, or be carried by migratory animals. However, invasive species are very often introduced into new ecosystems through human activity- intentional and accidental. Invasive introductions may be the result of the deliberate import of exotic plants or animals for such purposes as aquaculture, landscaping, or aquariums. Accidental introductions of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species result from a myriad of human activity, 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. Invasive species have caused many problems in the past, are causing problems now, and will continue to pose heightened threats to our future. In the Great Lakes alone, new studies have shown that invasive species are found at a rate of one every 28 weeks - 185 invaders, so far, and counting. A wide variety of species are problematic for many sectors of our world: ecosystems, including all natural systems and managed forests; food supply, including not only agriculture but also harvested wildlife, fish and shellfish; built environments, including landscaping, infrastructure, industry, and gardens; and pets. Invasive species have implications, too, for recreation and for human health.

Invasive species also dramatically impact agriculture and the ability to move plants and plant products in domestic and foreign commerce. Federal and state quarantines enacted to arrest 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. In recent years, the following invasive pests have been detected in New York: Plum Pox Virus of peaches, plums and nectarines; the European Cranefly, a pest of turf and pasture lands; and the Swede Midge, a pest of cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli.

Environmental Conservation Committee Chairmen Senator Carl Marcellino and Assemblyman Bob Sweeny were legislative sponsors of the bill creating the Council.

Senator Marcellino, said, "The Invasive Species Council will bring together the right minds to implement a statewide approach to this serious threat to our land and water ecosystems. The Council will allow New York to further protect the state's natural resources and will reinforce and strengthen the state's ongoing efforts to prevent invasive, non-native species from harming our environment, our economy and our communities."

Assemblyman Sweeney said, "Invasive species pose a significant threat to ecosystems throughout New York State, and cost the State, local governments and businesses millions of dollars each year. Unfortunately, there is currently little coordination of effort to control invasive species either at the federal or State level. This new law is a step toward ensuring effective and coordinated state efforts to manage and control invasive species. The Council will also help identify future policy measures which will prevent the spread and further introduction of invasive species into New York's environment and economy."

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.

Troy Weldy, Director of Ecological Management for The Nature Conservancy, said, "The passage of this invasive species legislation is a great step forward in managing New York's existing invasive species and protecting us from future biological invasions. The formation of the Invasive Species Council and Advisory Committee will bring partners together to share information and learn how to best combat these nuisance species."

The Council will be co-chaired by the Commissioners of DEC and Agriculture and Markets. Council membership will include the Commissioners of Transportation, Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and Education; the Secretary of State; the Chairperson of the New York State Thruway Authority; the Director of the New York State Canal Corporation; and the Chairperson of the Adirondack Park Agency.

The Council will work closely with an Advisory Committee made up of representatives of: New York biodiversity research institute, New York State's land grant university, New York Sea Grant, a statewide organization formed to address invasive species, a statewide land conservation organization, a statewide agricultural organization, a nursery business, a boating organization, the Darrin Freshwater Institute, the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Natural Heritage Program, a New York State forestry school, a lake association, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and a statewide local government organization.