Invasive Species

Invasive alien species pose one of the most serious threats to our environment, affecting all regions of the United States and every nation on the globe. Defined as "non-native organisms that harm, or have the potential to harm, the environment, economy or human health," invasive alien species are increasingly to blame for extinction of native plants and animals, decreased agricultural productivity, and emergence of new diseases. From zebra mussels in the Great Lakes to introduced mammals on the Hawaiian Islands to scotch broom spreading throughout the western U.S., the impacts of invasive species on ecosystems and indeed on food and water security are immense. As a result, the U.S. government has developed a coordinated approach to address the broad range of problems caused by invasive species.

Estimates of the cost of invasive species to the United States alone are in the tens of billions of dollars yearly. As trade, tourism, and transport increase, so too does the inadvertent movement of invasive species along these pathways. In response to growing public concern, a 1999 Executive Order established the National Invasive Species Council now comprised of representatives from ten agencies of the U.S. Government. Coordinated through the Council, these agencies are working together to address invasive species issues both domestically and abroad. The Council adopted a National Management Plan in January 2001, which outlines nine priority areas for the U.S. response to the problem of invasive species:

• leadership and coordination,
• prevention
• early detection and rapid response
• control and management, restoration
• international cooperation
• research
• information management
• education and public awareness

The Plan also identifies programs and initiatives through which the U.S. will foster voluntary, cooperative work on invasive species globally.

The State Department is working with other Federal agencies, the states, tribes, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to formulate U.S. foreign policy approaches to invasive species, especially in the context of international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. The Department of State also plays a coordinating role in the development and implementation of international treaties, such as the current negotiations within the Marine Environmental Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to control the spread of invasive species from exchange of ships' ballast water. The Department is striving to increase international awareness of invasive species and facilitate regional cooperation to address this serious problem. Through the OES Bureau, the Department is sponsoring a series of regional workshops with the Global Invasive Species Programme to raise awareness and promote development of regional strategies. These workshops, together with other U.S. government activities, are helping to forge the cooperation and collaboration vital to addressing this cross-sectoral international problem.