For Release: Thursday, April 1, 2010
Council Proposes Action to Protect Forests, Farmlands and Waterway from Invasive Species
Draft Report Recommends New Classification System to Restrict Movement of Non-native Plants and Animals
For the first time, New York would classify non-native plants and animals to help prevent the spread of invasive species through waterways, forests and farmlands, under a proposal unveiled today by the state Invasive Species Council.
The Council released a draft report, "A Regulatory System for Non-Native Species," that calls for a multi-pronged approach to tackling one of the state's fastest growing environmental threats. Among other recommendations, the Council proposed a new assessment system for invasive species - such as zebra mussels, Sirex wood wasps and Eurasian milfoil - that would allow the state to categorize them as "prohibited," "regulated" or "unregulated." Such a classification system would help restrict movement of potentially harmful plants and animals.
The Council, created by state statute, comprises nine state agencies and is co-led by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM). The Council released the draft report for public comment through May 14 (details below). Following finalization, the report will be sent to Governor David A. Paterson and the state Legislature for possible action.
"Invasive species have a devastating impact, not only on the environment but also the economy," DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis said. "They have wiped out certain tree species, hurt recreational and commercial fishing, and tainted water supplies. The best way to prevent their spread is to focus on the many pathways by which plants and animals are moved around the globe. The system the Council is proposing strikes the right balance of minimizing the major threats to our ecology and economy while allowing for the careful use of plants and animals that pose lower risks."
State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said: "In recent years, we have made significant progress in restricting certain pathways of non-native plant and animal species that threaten our economic and environmental sustainability. The process we have put forth for comment evaluates various invasive species and considers the level of harm and/or benefit that they offer. New York needs to ensure that harmful non-native species are not purposefully introduced as pets, nursery stock, food or other uses."
In producing the report, DEC and DAM assembled a multi-stakeholder team from other state and federal agencies, academia and conservation and business fields such as agriculture, pets, nursery and landscape. Other highlights of the report include:
- Landowners would have no obligation to remove invasive species that spread on to their lands through no fault of their own.
- The proposed regulatory system recognizes the business needs of nurseries and pet businesses to be able to plan and to manage existing stocks, some of which represent years of investment. This would include "grace periods" to avoid needlessly penalizing such industries.
- It encourages the nursery industry to develop varieties - "cultivars" in the plant world - that are sterile so that market demands could be satisfied without posing ecological and economic threats.
The Council's draft report is available online. The comment period runs through May 14, 2010. Comments can be sent via e-mail or by writing to NYSDEC - Office of Invasive Species Coordination, Fifth Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233.
