National Invasive Species Awareness Week 2020

This article was originally published in The Midden – Great Basin National Park: Vol. 20, No. 1, Summer 2020.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) is held May 16-23, 2020, but you can
help find invasive species anytime!

by Meg Horner, Biologist

National Invasive Species Awareness Week, or NISAW, begins on May 16, 2020. NISAW supports events across the nation to raise awareness and identify solutions to invasive species issues at local, state, tribal, national, and international levels. The goal of this public awareness campaign is to support education, legislation, and practical efforts to stop the spread of invasive plant and animal species on the nation’s lands and waterways to preserve natural ecosystems for the benefit of everyone.

Invasive species have the potential to negatively impact both natural and cultivated landscapes we enjoy and rely on. During this time of social distancing, people are spending more time outside and getting reacquainted with backyards, local open spaces, empty lots, and alleyways. People spending more time outdoors in their local area provides a great opportunity to locate and report invasive species infestations.

Example of invasive plants that Park staff focus treatment efforts on, this is Hoary Cress

NPS Photo by Julie Long

One publicly available and comprehensive tool to report and learn about invasive species is EDDMapS.

EDDMapS stands for Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System. This web-based platform allows citizen scientists, land managers, state agencies, and pest management professionals to report invasive species locations and explore invasive species information and distribution maps. EDDMapS’ goal is to maximize the effectiveness and accessibility of the immense numbers of invasive species and pest observations recorded each year. As of April 2020, EDDMapS has over 4.8 million records. This data will become the foundation for a better understanding of invasive species and pest distribution around the world.

How can you report? Check out the EDDMapS website and download the app to your smartphone.

Here are some other ways that NISAW.org encourages you to help: Learn about invasive species, especially those found in your region. Your county extension office (here's White Pine County's) and State Department of Agriculture website are both trusted resources. Clean hiking boots, waders, boats and trailers, off-road vehicles, and other gear to stop invasive species from hitching a ride to a new location.

Example of invasive plant (Bull Thistle) that Park staff focus treatment efforts on

NPS Photo by Julie Long

Avoid dumping aquariums or live bait into waterways. Don’t move firewood – instead, buy it where you’ll burn it, or gather on site when permitted. Use forage, hay, mulch, and soil that are certified as “weed free.” Plant native plants in your garden and remove any known invaders.

There are a variety of other online resources to learn more, increase your impact as a citizen scientist, and help protect local landscapes – Don’t Move Firewood Website, Habitattitude Website, Wild Spotter Website and iNaturalist Website. Invasive species data collected with Wild Spotter and iNaturalist are included in the EDDMapS database.