National
Management Plan: Conclusion
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Invasive species are found in
every country and type of environment. They have damaged our
waters, farms, natural areas, and even our backyards. They have
abetted the collapse of valuable commercial fisheries; ruined
thousands of acres of food crops and livestock forage; nearly
eliminated several native tree species; interrupted utility services;
hastened the decline of many endangered species; and harmed animal
and human health. Scientists, academics, leaders of industry,
and land managers now recognize invasive species as one of the
most serious environmental threats of the 21st century (Mooney
and Hobbs 2000).
Despite an array of Federal programs
designed to stop or control them, the number of invasive species
and their cumulative impacts are accelerating at an alarming
rate. This Plan is an important first step for a unified and
cooperative approach to address invasive species issues.
The Plan is intended to present
an ambitious yet "doable" blueprint from which the
U.S. Federal agencies, along with their partners, can work to
minimize the significant impacts of invasive species. The next
and most difficult step will be implementation of the Plan -
which is the highest and most immediate priority. To implement
the Plan, the Council will provide coordination as the Federal
agencies work to integrate the Plan's recommendations into their
existing programs.
The Council recognizes that other
governments, many Federal agencies, and interagency groups (e.g.,
ANSTF, FICMNEW, CENR), as well as State and local entities, have
prepared plans on invasive species. These plans provide an opportunity
for the Federal agencies to identify the priorities they share
with other stakeholders and thus establish cooperative, well-coordinated
approaches to Plan implementation.
As implementation proceeds, the
Council will provide updates on its Web site and continue to
expand its information-sharing network. The Web site will become
a "gateway" to Federal information and a link to non-Federal
resources, especially international, State, local, and regional
invasive species priorities and data. The site itself will function
as an important coordination tool, bringing multiple kinds of
information to one location.
In the past, it was common to
view individual invasive species and geographic areas in isolation.
Furthermore, attempts to deal with invasive species problems
have suffered from a lack of coordination among Federal agencies,
and between Federal agencies and other stakeholders. This uncoordinated
approach has contributed to the invasive species problem we face
today.
With a global economy, increasing
demand for foreign products, great mobility, and more accessibility
to distant locations, former methods of dealing with invasive
species are no longer adequate. By adopting a comprehensive plan
and coordinating our efforts, the Federal agencies can help minimize
the spread of invasive species. Ultimately, the greatest asset
in meeting the invasive species challenge is an informed and
involved public.
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