A Decision-making Guide for

Invasive Species Program

Managers

Michael G. Buck

National Association of State Foresters

(http://www.stateforesters.org)

On behalf of the Continental Dialogue on Non-Native Forest

Insects and Diseases

(http://www.continentalforestdialogue.org)

PURPOSE

Assist senior level program managers and policy

makers in establishing priorities and making choices

for invasive species management programs.

Focus of guide is for how to deal with invasive

species once they have arrived.

Continential Dialogue Steering Committee

Rita Hite - Vice President for Public Affairs American Forest Foundation

Craig Regelbrugge American Nursery & Landscape Association

John Peter Thompson - American Nursery & Landscape Association

Joseph McCarthy - Senior City Forester City of Chicago Bureau of Forestry

Jodie Ellis – Idaho State Agricultural Programs Manager

Ann Gibbs - State Horticulturalist Maine Department of Agriculture

Bob Ehart - Public Policy Director Nat. Association of State Departments of Agriculture

Michael Buck – Sustainable Forestry Rep. National Association Of State Foresters

Allegra Cangelosi - Senior Policy Analyst Northeast Midwest Institute

Donald Eggen - Forest Health Manager Pennsylvania Dept of Conservation

Lin Schmale - Senior Director of Government Relations Society of American Florists

Bernard Hubbard - Past President Society Of American Foresters

Ken Rauscher - Director, Pest Management Division Michigan Department of Agriculture

Bill Toomey / Faith Campbell The Nature Conservancy

Keith Douce - Co-Director & Professor University of Georgia

Scott Pfister - Director of Forest Pests USDA APHIS PPQ

Robert Mangold - Director, Forest Health Protection USDA Forest Service

We know that:

Invasive species are inflicting significant burdens:

undermining biological diversity;

disrupting natural systems;

diminishing ecosystem resources and services;

posing public health risks; and

burdening the agricultural, ranching, forestry, and

fisheries industries.

Yet the nation’s current protection

system is:

piecemeal;

lacks adequate rigor and comprehensiveness;

…………………………..

virtually ensuring that invasive species will

continue to arrive and spread.

Things will get worse:

decreased operational capacity compounded by the inherent

challenges for invasive species budgeting;

competition from other forest health issues (e.g. native bark

beetles); and

acceptance by the general public of the incremental deterioration

of environmental values from impacts from invasive species.

SO: what are you going to do?

Invasive species program managers will be forced to establish priorities about which invasive species to focus on and which management options to choose.

LESSONS LEARNED

You can run but you cannot hide

You have to make choices

There is no status quo with invasive species – the

game is always on - with you or without you.

The decisions made, as well as the ones you don’t

make, will both have long reaching impacts.

We have met the enemy

Prevention is your best option

Choose your battles wisely

Science is not the only answer

Expand your capabilities

*

Establishing Priorities

Establishing Priorities

Eradication

Success elements Commitment to complete

action

Putting entire population

at risk

Capacity to prevent re-

invasion

Support from affected

local communities

Control

Short term - less

expensive than

eradication

Funding can vary

between years (political

pressure, public

awareness)

Long run – more

expensive than a

successful eradication

program.

Mitigation – learn to live with it

More important option

as invasive species

naturalize

Needed for collateral

damage (e.g. urban

tree removal)

While labor intensive

and costly, often a

politically viable

option in tandem with

eradication and

control.

Establishing Priorities

Establishing Priorities