National Invasive Species Information Center - What's New

New Insights into Invasive Plant Management (Feb 3, 2012)

2012-02-07T22:30:21Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

New Insights into Invasive Plant Management (Feb 3, 2012)
ARS Scientists have created a model called Ecologically Based Invasive-Plant Management (EBIPM) that can significantly boost land managers' rate of success in restoring native vegetation on rangeland damaged by invasive plants like cheatgrass that not only limit livestock grazing options, but also fuel wildfires.

* See our In the News section for more information and resources. ]]>

USDA Seeks Suggestions to Implement Section 10201 of the 2008 Farm Bill (Jan 30, 2012)

2012-02-07T21:17:35Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

USDA Seeks Suggestions to Implement Section 10201 of the 2008 Farm Bill (Jan 30, 2012)
APHIS will be gathering input and accepting suggestions to implement Section 10201 ("Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention") of the 2008 Farm Bill. This input will be used to inform the development of an FY 2012 Spending Plan. The suggestion period closes Feb 24, 2012; the final FY 2012 spending plan will be released late Apr 2012 (tentative).

* See our In the News section for more information and resources. ]]>

Guidelines for Disposal of Terrestrial Invasive Plants and Other Plant Prevention Information

2012-01-24T20:45:00Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Guidelines for Disposal of Terrestrial Invasive Plants (2011)
Produced by: The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the University of Connecticut.
This document focuses on the disposal of invasive plant material after control work takes place and does not include information about invasive plant control. Once control activities have concluded, please use these general guidelines to dispose of invasive plant materials as safely and effectively as possible.

* See our Plants - Prevention section for more information and resources. ]]>

New Invasive Species Conferences

2012-01-24T20:05:35Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Many New Upcoming Invasive Species Conferences added, including:

National Invasive Species Forum (Canada) -- Feb 28-Mar 1, 2012

20th High Altitude Revegetation Workshop -- Mar 6-8, 2012

Society for Ecological Restoration - Mid-Atlantic - "Restoration on the Edge: Exploring the frontiers of restoration" -- Mar 23-24, 2012

35th Annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnobiology - "Conservation and Communities" - Apr 11-14, 2012

Society for Ecological Restoration - Northwest and British Columbia - "Beyond Borders" -- May 15-18, 2012

Environmental Restoration in a Changing Climate -- May 22-24, 2012

9th INTECOL (International Association for Ecology) International Wetlands Conference - "Wetlands in a Complex World" -- Jun 3-8, 2012

Sudden Oak Death 5th Science Symposium -- Jun 19-21, 2012

11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (Ramsar COP11) - "Wetlands, Tourism and Recreation" -- Jul 6-13, 2012

8th Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration - Europe (SER) - "Near-Natural Restoration" -- Sep 9-14, 2012

ForestSAT 2012 -- Sep 11-14, 2012

4th International EcoSummit - "Ecological Sustainability: Restoring the Planet’s Ecosystem Services" -- Sep 30-Oct 5, 2012

11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity -- Oct 8-19, 2012

6th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration - "Restoring Ecosystems, Strengthening Communities" -- Oct 20-24, 2012

Society for Ecological Restoration - Texas - 2012 Annual Conference -- Nov 2-4, 2012

* See our Conference Calendar for more information and resources.]]>

National Invasive Species Awareness Week 2012 -- Feb 26-Mar 3, 2012

2012-01-19T21:18:18Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

National Invasive Species Awareness Week 2012 -- Feb 26-Mar 3, 2012
A broad coalition of stakeholders will gather to spotlight harmful invasive species that cause a multibillion-dollar annual drain on our nation's economy. A week of activities, briefings, and events in Washington D.C. to highlight what is being done across the nation and around the world to stop and slow the spread of invasive species. Registration is now available.

* See our News and Events section for more ifnormation and resources. ]]>

North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 5.5 Million From White-nose Syndrome (Jan 17, 2012)

2012-01-19T14:04:33Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 5.5 Million From White-nose Syndrome (Jan 17, 2012)
On the verge of another season of winter hibernating bat surveys, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists and partners estimate that at least 5.7 million to 6.7 million bats have now died from white-nose syndrome. Biologists expect the disease to continue to spread.

* See our In the News section for more information and resources. ]]>

3rd International Symposium on Weeds and Invasive Plants (Agricultural Weeds and Plant Invaders)

2012-01-19T13:35:09Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

3rd International Symposium on Weeds and Invasive Plants (Agricultural Weeds and Plant Invaders)
Oct 2-7, 2011 Ascona (Monte Verita) Switzerland

Scientists and practitioners from all over the world met from Oct 3 to 7, 2011 in Ascona, Switzerland for a symposium on terrestrial and aquatic exotic and invasive plants. This series of meetings, which began 2006 features bringing together specialists on biology, weed science, agronomy and practice. The delegates shared experiences on biology, ecology and control plant invaders and intractable weeds. More than 100 delegates from 26 countries of all continents came to Ascona. 39 oral presentations were given and 49 posters were exposed.

* See our Conference Proceedings section for more information and resources. ]]>

Washington Invasive Species Council: Annual Report - 2011

2012-01-18T19:59:38Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Washington Invasive Species Council: Annual Report - 2011
This report to the Legislature summarizes the work of the council during the past year and discusses the threat invasives species pose to Washington's landscape, industry, and wildlife, and people. See the top priorities for invasive species in Washington.

* See our Washington page for more information and resources. ]]>

National Ocean Policy Draft Implementation Plan (Jan 12, 2012)

2012-01-18T14:44:18Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

National Ocean Policy Draft Implementation Plan (Jan 12, 2012)
As part of President Obama's National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes, the National Ocean Council has released a draft National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes. The draft Implementation Plan describes more than 50 actions the Federal Government will take to improve the health of the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. Our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes are subject to substantial pressures and face significant environmental challenges, including those resulting from invasive species. Public comment period is open until Feb 27, 2012.

* See our In the News section for more information and resources. ]]>

Salazar Announces Ban on Importation and Interstate Transportation of Four Giant Snakes that Threaten Everglades (Jan 17, 2012)

2012-01-17T20:13:13Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Salazar Announces Ban on Importation and Interstate Transportation of Four Giant Snakes that Threaten Everglades (Jan 17, 2012)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a rule that would ban the importation and interstate transportation of four nonnative constrictor snakes that threaten the Everglades and other sensitive ecosystems across the U.S. The final rule -- which incorporates public comments, economic analysis, and environmental assessment -- lists the Burmese python, the yellow anaconda, and the northern and southern African pythons as injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act in order to restrict their spread in the wild in the U.S. It is expected to publish in the Federal Register in the coming days.

* See our In the News section for more information and resources. ]]>

Feedback Sought on Proposed Invasive Species Regulations (Jan 3, 2012)

2012-01-04T21:28:44Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Feedback Sought on Proposed Invasive Species Regulations (Jan 3, 2012)
TPWD will be hosting two scoping meetings (Jan 16 and 17) in North Texas this month to get public feedback on a pair of proposed new regulations aimed at preventing the spread of exotic aquatic species in the state. Although possession and transport of zebra mussels and Asian carp are already prohibited, TPWD biologists believe additional regulations are needed to prevent the accidental or incidental movement of these species from one waterbody to another.

* See our Texas page for more information and resources. ]]>

Congress Approves $300 Million for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (Dec 19, 2011)

2012-01-04T18:31:11Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Congress Approves $300 Million for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (Dec 19, 2011)
The approved funding keeps the ball rolling for the historic levels of federal investment in Great Lakes cleanup through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The Initiative was kicked off in 2010 with $475 million in restoration funds aimed at cleaning up toxic hot spots, curbing runoff pollution, fighting invasive species, and restoring habitat. 2011 saw a decrease in funding from Congress to just under $300 million.

* See our Federal Press Releases - House of Representatives section for more information and resources. ]]>

Experts and National Attorneys General Discuss Invasive Species (Dec 1, 2011)

2012-01-04T16:15:41Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Experts and National Attorneys General Discuss Invasive Species (Dec 1, 2011)
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette moderated an invasive species panel discussion before the Winter Meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), held in San Antonio, TX on Nov 30, 2011. The panel is an extension of Schuette's efforts to build a national coalition "to demand tough action by Congress" to combat the spread of invasive species through the Chicago Waterway System, including the voracious Asian carp.

* See our In the News section for more information and resources. ]]>

New Invasive Species Conferences

2012-01-04T14:31:46Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Many New Upcoming Invasive Species Conferences added, including:

Aquatics Invasive Species Summit (Pelican River Watershed District, Minnesota) -- Jan 14, 2012

2012 Tamarisk Symposium -- Feb 15,17, 2012

Great Lakes Commission SemiAnnual Meeting and Great Lakes Day in Washington -- Feb 27-29, 2012

BIT's 1st Annual World Congress of Biodiversity 2012 - Today Eco-civilization, Tomorrow Happiness -- Apr 25-28, 2012

International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR)'s 55th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research - From Great Lakes Flow Mighty Rivers -- May 13-17, 2012

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative's 2012 Annual Meeting and Conference -- Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative's 2012 Annual Meeting and Conference -- Jun 26-28, 2012

* See our Conference Calendar for more information and resources.]]>

Vermont -- Vermont Invasives

2011-12-28T21:27:40Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Vermont Invasives
This site provides a landing page for Vermonters interested in learning more about invasive insects, plants and pathogens. In addition, the Web site is designed to guide visitors to the appropriate place to learn more and become involved in various monitoring, management and outreach efforts.

* See our Vermont page for more information and resources. ]]>