National
Management Plan: Appendix 6 - Guiding Principles
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6 - Guiding Principles
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In addition, the Advisory Committee
and the Council adopted a set of guiding principles to shape
the development of the Management Plan. They provide the general
scope and direction for the specific actions to be taken under
the invasive species management plan. By reflecting the values
and experience of a diversity of stakeholders, they are intended
to support efforts to prevent and control the invasive species
at local, State, national, and international scales.
Guiding
Principle #1 - Take action now.
Many alien species are non-invasive
and support human livelihoods or a preferred quality of life.
Only those alien species that cause substantial, negative impacts
to the environment, economies, and human health fall under the
scope of the Invasive Species Council.
Introductions by invasive species
can be a consequence of human activities such as trade, travel,
and alteration of the environment. Changes in human values, beliefs,
and behavior are necessary to alleviate the introduction and
spread of invasive species.
In order to protect food, health,
and the environment we must now take strategic action to reduce
the impacts of invasive species.
Guiding
Principle #2 - Be cautious and comprehensive.
Invasions are often unpredictable:
caution is warranted in the intentional and unintentional relocation
of all non-native organisms.
An effective management strategy
for invasive species integrates information exchange, public
education, prevention, early detection, rapid response, scientifically
informed control, and restoration.
A comprehensive strategy for
preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species addresses
intentional, unintentional, authorized, and unauthorized movement
of organisms among and within countries.
In order to be effective, national
and international goals and actions relevant to the management
of invasive species need to be congruent, integrated, and mutually
supportive.
Policies that address the problem
of invasive species will be most effective if they are consistently
applied (across pathways, means of invasion and invaders) are
comprehensive in scope, and take in the consideration of all
stakeholders.
Guiding
Principle #3 - Work smart, be adaptive.
Efforts to manage invasive species
are most-effective when: (1) they have goals and objectives that
are clearly defined and prioritized; and they are (2) proactive
rather than reactive; (3) based on current biological, social,
and economic information; (4) applied rapidly, even when a reasonable
degree of uncertainty is present; and (5) benefit a diversity
of stakeholders.
The impacts of invasive species
can be significantly reduced if stakeholders work cooperatively
to: (1) undertake applied, interdisciplinary research, (2) develop
and apply technologies to prevent and control invasive species,
and 3) incorporate these advances into management and policy
decision making.
A system to coordinate and integrate
information of invasive species is desirable, as is an organized
approach to disseminating data and ensuring that management strategies
evolve based on new information.
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Guiding
Principle #4 - Find balance.
The prevention and management
of invasive species can support economic growth and sustainable
development and should be incorporated into policies to meet
these objectives.
Develop policies and incentive
programs that encourage voluntary cooperation of public agencies,
States, and all other stakeholders. Back these measures with
effective enforcement authorities and capabilities.
Strive for control methods that
are scientifically, socially, culturally, and ethically acceptable
and provide the desired affect on the target organism while minimizing
the negative impact on the environment.
Guiding
Principle #5 - Pull together.
The current capacities of the
United States to prevent and manage invasive species are often
fragmented, inefficient, and lack sufficient enforcement. Coordination
and an effective regulatory framework are required at the Federal
level, and a complementary, flexible approach is needed to address
the complex, broad needs of stakeholders at more local levels.
Cooperative relationships among
Federal, State, and county governments, as well as other stakeholders,
need to be encouraged and supported to ensure the development
and implementation of an effective invasive species prevention
and control program nationwide.
The United States needs to raise
the profile of the invasive species issue, provide leadership
in the management of invasive species, share information and
technologies, and contribute technical assistance to address
the problem on a global scale.
Guiding
Principle #6 - Be inclusive, meet specific needs.
Everyone has a stake in the management
of invasive species and therefore needs to be involved in efforts
to address the problem.
Education and outreach programs
on invasive species will be most effective when they target the
information needs and interests of specific audiences, indicate
that positive progress can be made, and recommend specific actions.
Stakeholder involvement can be expanded by communicating the
inter-relationships between invasive species and quality of life
issues, and by delivering a consistent message through a diversity
of messengers and media.
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