| Frequently Asked Questions |
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| What is an invasive species? |
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An invasive species is a non-native species whose introduction does, or
is likely to, cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human
health. An invasive species can be a plant, animal, or any other
biologically viable species that enters an ecosystm beyond its native
range.
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| What makes a species non-native? |
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Native species refers to those plant or animal species originally
living, growing, or produced in an ecosystem within their historic
range.
Not all non-native species are invasive, most are beneficial or
harmless. Nearly all crop and livestock species are non-native as are
many of our favorite flowers and ornamental plants.
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| Why are invasive species problematic? |
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Invasive species are a threat to our health, economy, and environment. Invasive species cost the U.S. economy over $120 billion dollars
annually. This includes the cost of control, damage to propery values,
health costs, and other factors. However, this cost does not consider
the ecological damages caused buy invasive species, which is difficult
to quantify.
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| How do invasive species damage the environment? |
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Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 46 percent of the
country's threatened and endangered native species. Invasive species
consume resources upon which native species depend, destroy crops and
sensitive habitat, and alter the food chain in an ecosystem by becoming
the dominant predator. Invasive plants crowd out native species or
upset an ecosystem to such an extent that native plants and animals can
no longer survive.
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| Where do invasive species come from? |
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The manner in which an invasive species enters or spreads throughout a
non-native ecosystem is called a pathway or vector. Pathways can be
natural or the resut of human activities. Species can travel via weather
patterns, tides and water currents, or within the digestive tract of a
migratory animal. New species are imported for use in aquaculture,
aquaria, and gardening. Other human pathways include shipping
materials, ballast water, trucks and recreational boats, and even the
shoes of travelers.
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| Why is a species invasive in one locale but not where it's native |
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When a plant or animal is transported to a new environment, the
predators and other natural enemies that exist in its natural habitat
are no longer present. This gives the species an advantage over other
species in the area, and allows it to flourish in its new land. The
species becomes invasive when its presence becomes harmful to the
natural ecosystem processes.
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| How can introduction and spread be prevented? |
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Invasive species management is complex. It requires intervention on a
variety of stages: prevention, early detection, eradication, control
and management, restoration, and public education. The Oregon Invasive
Species Council (OISC), created by the Oregon legislature in 2002,
creates a forum for state agencies, local governments, universities,
industries and other groups involved in invasive species management to
coordinate their management efforts into one strategic, consolidated
effort. As directed by the legislature, the OISC has developed an
Oregon Invasive Species Action Plan. Included as part of the plan is a list of the 100 Most Dangerous Invasive Species threatening Oregon.
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| What's wrong with the way we previously managed invasive species? |
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In 1997, 500 scientists and resource managers wrote to the Vice
President: "We are losing the war against invasive exotic species, and
their economic impacts are soaring. We simply cannot allow this
unacceptable degredation of our Nation's public and agriculture lands
to continue." The management of invasive species falls under a myriad
of statutes and regulations administered by a variety of agencies on
the international, federal, state, and local levels. Laws are often
passed to address specific crises (such as zebra mussels) and pathways
of introduction of the species (such as ballast water). Policy studies
have found that as a result, there are often significant gaps and
overlaps in state and federal laws and regulations. The Oregon Invasive
Species Council fosters agency cooperation and encourages a
comprehensive approach to meet the unique challenge of invasive species
management.
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| What is the federal government doing? |
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In February of 1999, President Clinton signed Executive Order 13112
establishing the Federal Invasive Species Council. The Council consists
of ten federal agencies whose activities affect invasive species. It
serves as a mechanism to promote information sharing and coordination
of management efforts. Most importantly, the Council was tasked with
creating an Invasive Species Management Plan to establish a
comprehensive and coordinated approach to invasive species management.
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