Partners in Invasive Species Prevention

A Department of the Interior team of invasive species specialists and non-governmental organization partners are celebrating their first-year accomplishments as they prepare year two plans for the field.

“We moved quickly from plans to projects last year,” said Todd Suess, National Park Service chief of biological resources. “Staff from parks and refuges in the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service installed thousands of signs at water access points across the U.S., installed boot and watercraft cleaning stations at those sites and carried out a successful media campaign to highlight what is at stake in the battle to stop the spread of invasive species.”

The work was completed under the terms of an agreement with the North American Invasive Species Management Association, Wildlife Forever, the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Cynthia Martinez, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System said work under the agreement has helped facilitate broader adoption and placement of national prevention campaigns such as Clean Drain Dry®, PlayCleanGo® and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers.

“These campaigns importantly ask the public to help stop the spread of invasive species. Through coordinated media, marketing outreach, signs at boat ramps and other water access points, we reached 10s of millions of people with messages that support best practices for ensuring the future of our public natural resources.

A new exhibit at Congaree National Park provides information about invasive species and supplies a boot brush for visitors to use.

NPS/Southeast Coast Invasive Plant Management Team

President and CEO of Wildlife Forever Pat Conzemius said, “This MOU is a great example of leveraging partnership assets and making smart, on-the-ground investments that educate the public. I look forward to expanding this model with other agencies and organizations.”

“Nearly 50 percent of endangered or threatened species are at risk due to invasive species,” said Belle Bergner, Executive Director, North American Invasive Species Management Association. “This strategic partnership has helped unify and apply the message of prevention and we look forward to continuing our work together.”

To date, the partnership has invested more than $1.1 million to support:

• The installation of more than 3,000 signs in national parks, wildlife refuges, and local land or water accesses (with another 1,000 signs coming in the next year)
• Installation of boot and watercraft cleaning stations
• Development of the new Invasive Species Resource Center (ISRC), an online clearinghouse for invasive species Management Methods, Research, and Outreach and Education to aid in information sharing between natural resource managers, policy makers, and the general public.
• A national media campaign targeting boaters, anglers, hunters, hikers, and campers.

If you'd like to learn more about prevention activities in the NPS, contact Terri Hogan.