NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

New York StateInvasive Species Coordination Unit

Leslie Surprenant, LeaderDave Adams, Staff

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Office of Invasive Species Coordination

MISSION

…to prevent or minimize the harm caused by invasive species to New York’s environment

by collaborating and coordinating efforts with all stakeholders across the State.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

What are NYISC & NYSISAC?Laws of New York, 2008Chapter 26

ECL Article 9, Title 17

Invasive Species: A species that is nonnative to the ecosystem under

consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic

or environmental harm or harm to human health.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Ac

res

Infe

ste

d

Eradication simple

Plant absent

Era

dic

atio

n f

easi

ble

Era

dic

atio

n u

nlik

ely,

in

ten

se e

ffo

rt

req

uir

ed

Scattered

locations

Numerous

locations

At or near biological potential

Local control and management

only

Invasive Plant Increase Over Time and Control Potential

Co

ntr

ol C

os

ts

Public awareness

typically begins

Introduction

Time

Detection

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Structure

Council(9 agency reps)

Advisory Committee

(25 groups)

I S Coordination Unit(2 DEC staff)

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

OISC Advisory

Committee

Eradication Grants

Sea Grant

Clearinghouse

Response

Teams

Cooperative

ExtensionResearch

Institute

iMap GIS

Laws & Regs

Industry Efforts

PRISMs (8)

Council

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Invasive Species Database

• Where are NY’s Invasive Species ?

• Online info and GIS mapping

• Assist early detection

• Supports rapid response

• Can track control activities and results

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Coordination ~ among partnersVolunteers ~ recruit & trainEducation ~ identify & meet needsEarly Detection ~ monitoring networkRapid Response ~ pilotsEradication ~ implement projectsResearch ~ citizen sciencePlanning ~ integrate existing plans

Delivery of Program

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Cooperative Weed Management Areas

• 1992 Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee

• Unified strategy for invasive species management

• Success encouraged others in the west

• Some states have 100% coverage

• Slow to catch on in the Eastern US

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Eastern Challenges

• Lands tend to be divided into smaller parcels

• Much higher density of human population

• Very few states have county employees responsible for invasive species management

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

CWMA / PRISM

• Operate within a defined geographic area• Involve a broad cross-section of landowners

and managers• Governed by a steering committee• Long-term commitment to cooperation• Comprehensive plan• Facilitate cooperation and coordination

across jurisdictional boundaries

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Why Form a CWMA/PRISM?

• Allow partners to share and leverage limited resources

• Highly visible, building community awareness and participation

• Can improve control efforts• Can provide an early detection and rapid

response network• Can help secure funds

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Organizing a CWMA/PRISM

• Select a leader• Establish geographic

boundaries• Identify potential partners• Determine common

goals• Select a name• Choose a fiscal manager• Hold public meetings

• Establish a steering committee

• Select officers

• Agreement

• Strategic plan

• Annual operating plan

• Committees

• Coordinator

• Implement plans

• Celebrate successes

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Supporting Structure

• Annual In-service

• Invasive Species Awareness Week July 6-12, 2014

• Quarterly Council Meetings

• Quarterly Advisory Committee Meetings

• Bi-monthly PRISM Leaders Meetings

• Monthly Conference Calls

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Questions?

• Leslie Surprenant, Leader

518-402-8980

• Dave Adams, Coordinator

518-402-9149