Invasive Species Update

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Invasive Species Update
National Environmental Policy Meeting Sacramento,
CA June 14-15, 2005 Doug Holy
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Invasive Species

• Overview of NRCS policy and the basis for it
• A few specific invasive species activities of
  NRCS
• Meeting the invasive species challenge (panel
  presentations and discussion)

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NRCS Invasive Species Policy

• Published November 2004 as General Manual Title
  190, Technology, Part 414, Invasive Species,
  Subparts A through D http//policy.nrcs.usda.gov/s
  cripts/lpsiis.dll/GM/GM_190_414.htm

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Purpose

• This policy provides direction and guidance for
  agency actions related to preventing the
  introduction of invasive species, managing
  existing invasive species and minimizing
  economic, ecological, and human health impacts
  that invasive species may cause.

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Background

• USDA Policy for Noxious Weed Management of
  January 1990
• E.O. 13122 of February 1999
• Defines harm from invasive species
• Important definitions and clarifications

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USDA Policy for Noxious Weed Management

• Defines noxious weed and declares that USDA
  agencies will not encourage the propagation of
  such

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E.O. 13112 Charge

• All Federal agencies whose actions may affect
  invasive species are to identify the actions,
  and, subject to appropriations, use relevant
  programs and authorities to do the following

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Federal Agency Duties (E.O. 13112)

• Prevent the introduction of invasive species
• Detect and respond rapidly to and control
  populations of such species in a cost-effective
  and environmentally sound manner
• Monitor invasive species populations accurately
  and reliably

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Federal Agency Duties (E.O. 13112)

• Provide for restoration of native species and
  habitat conditions in ecosystems that have been
  invaded
• Conduct research on invasive species and develop
  technologies to prevent introduction and provide
  for environmentally sound control of invasive
  species
• Promote public education on invasive species and
  the means to address them

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Agency Duties (E.O. 13112)

• Not authorize, fund, or carry out actions that it
  believes are likely to cause or promote the
  introduction or spread of invasive species in the
  United States or elsewhere unless, pursuant to
  guidelines that it has prescribed, the agency has
  determined and made public its determination that
  the benefits of such actions clearly outweigh the
  potential harm caused by invasive species and
  that all feasible and prudent measures to
  minimize risk of harm will be taken in
  conjunction with the actions. (i.e., Do No
  Harm)

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Agency Duties (E.O. 13112)

• Federal agencies shall pursue these duties in
  consultation with the National Invasive Species
  Council, consistent with the National Invasive
  Species Management Plan and in cooperation with
  stakeholders, as appropriate.

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National Invasive Species Council(E.O. 13112)

• Includes 13 Departments/agencies with co-chairs
  being Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and
  Commerce
• Ensure that Federal agency activities concerning
  invasive species are coordinated, complementary,
  cost-efficient, and effective
• Rely to the extent feasible on existing
  organizations (e.g., Aquatic Nuisance Species
  Task Force, the Federal Interagency Committee for
  the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds, and
  the Committee on Environment and Natural
  Resources

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National Invasive Species Council(E.O. 13112)

• Ensure that activities concerning invasive
  species are coordinated, complementary,
  cost-efficient, and effective.

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National Invasive Species Management Plan

• Invasive Species Action Plan for the nation
• First edition in 2001
• Contains performance-oriented goals
• Focuses upon non-native organisms that may cause
  significant negative impacts and not provide
  equivalent benefits
• To be revised biennially undergoing second
  revision now

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NRCS Policy Defines Harm from Invasive Species

• They reduce the economic productivity and
  ecological integrity of our nations lands and
  waters.
• The rate of introduction of such species has
  risen markedly in recent years with costs to
  society growing.
• Invasive species harm noninvasive native species
  and their habitats, renewable resources, and
  diminish productive capacity of agricultural
  lands.
• They may negatively impact a wide variety of
  human activities and needs.

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Important Definitions

• Invasive species Those species whose
  introduction does, or is likely to, cause
  economic or environmental harm or harm to human
  health.
• Defines Introduced and clarifies that this term
  is not equal to invasive

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Important Definitions

• Noxious weeds Those plant species designated as
  such by the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary
  of the Interior, or by State law or regulation.
  Generally, noxious weeds are aggressive and
  difficult to manage, may be parasitic, a carrier
  or host of deleterious insects or disease, and
  are non-native, new to, or not common to the
  United States or parts thereof.

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NRCS Roles Regarding Invasive Species

• Adhering to goals and purposes of the NISMP.
• Following and supporting all Tribal, State, and
  local laws regarding invasive species in the
  course of giving technical and financial
  assistance and implementing conservation
  practices.
• Considering environmental, social, cultural and
  economic conditions when recommending management
  options for invasive species.

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NRCS Roles Regarding Invasive Species

• Encouraging the use of native species for a given
  location and conservation practice in correlation
  with restoration or containment goals, as for
  example, ecological site descriptions or other
  agency-established land-use type classifications.
• Evaluating, developing, and/or recommending
  noninvasive, non-native species in order to meet
  both the agronomic and conservation objectives of
  our clientele when native species will not
  support the conservation needs.
• Using NRCS programs, when appropriate, to help
  private landowners recognize, inventory, and
  control invasive species

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NRCS Roles Regarding Invasive Species

• Working with NRCS experts and partners in order
  to better understand invasiveness thresholds and
  potential social, economic and/or environmental
  threats.
• Preparing and maintaining management plans,
  technical notes and guides reflecting management
  of invasive species, and adding timely and
  pertinent information to the Plant Materials
  Program national Web site (http//Plant-Materials.
  nrcs.usda.gov), the PLANTS database
  (http//plants.usda.gov/), and other appropriate
  databases.

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NRCS Roles Regarding Invasive Species

• Recognizing that many introduced species are not
  invasive, and that some of these are among the
  best plants for conservation, forage production,
  and agronomic purposes.
• Recognizing that NRCS staffs are likely to be
  among the first professionals to see or hear of
  existing or potential species invasions due to
  the NRCS interface with private landowners.
  While making certain to protect client
  confidentiality, this connection must be used
  wisely in working with landowners to manage their
  invasive species concerns to prevent these
  invasive species from spreading.

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NRCS Roles Regarding Invasive Species
(Partnerships Encouraged)

• To share information and address invasive species
  issues impacting ecosystem health and quality of
  life.
• To provide public education on invasive species
  identification and management.
• To achieve local goals for controlling invasive
  species.
• To create Tribal, State, and regional lists of
  invasive terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal
  species, and prioritize these species in such a
  way as to reflect the degree of threat to human,
  environmental, and economic health.

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Supporting NRCS Invasive Species Activities

• Active participation with other USDA agencies
  (APHIS, ARS, CSREES, ERS, FS, FSA) in
  coordinating invasive species activities, and in
  preparing the USDA contribution to the annual
  NISC Invasive Species Cross-cut budget.
• Active participation with the National
  Agricultural Library and others to redesign and
  contribute to the gateway to Federal efforts
  concerning invasive species at http//www.invasive
  species.gov.

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Supporting NRCS Invasive Species Activities

• Inclusion of an invasive species module within
  the PLANTS database (http//plants.usda.gov )
  recognized as a primary information source for
  both aquatic and terrestrial plants.
• Continued work of the Plant Materials Centers to
  actively select native, non-invasive plant
  species suited to solving conservation problems.
• Active member of the Federal Interagency
  Committee for the Management of Noxious and
  Exotic Weeds (FICMNEW), a forum for coordinating
  Federal invasive species activities.

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Supporting NRCS Invasive Species Activities

• Active participant and steering team member for
  the annual National Invasive Weeds Awareness
  Week activities held in Washington, DC
• Active participant and steering team member of
  the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign
• Incorporation of invasive species and pollinator
  protection verbiage into the Purpose, Criteria,
  or Considerations portions of appropriate
  conservation practices

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Supporting NRCS Invasive Species Activities

• Formed the NRCS Invasive Species Advisory Group

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Supporting NRCS Invasive Species Activities

• NRCS employees continue to work closely with
  Conservation Districts, other local partners,
  State and Regional Weed Management organizations,
  or Exotic Pest Plant Councils in their local
  efforts to detect, suppress, eradicate, and/or
  manage invasive weeds using Farm Bill programs
  (e.g., CTA, CRP, WRP, WHIP, EQIP) that offer
  opportunities to address invasive species control
  and management through technical and financial
  assistance.