Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
3-29-2017
Citation
Invasive Species Advisory Committee, March 29, 2017
Also available at https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/isac_federal-state_white_paper.pdf
Abstract
Executive Summary
The Federal-State Coordination Task Team (Task Team) was formed to address the need for increased coordination of invasive species actions at the local, state, territorial, regional, and ecosystem level as put forth in Executive Orders (EO) 13112 and 13751, and Action 2.5.1 of the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) 2016–2018 Management Plan (Management Plan). The need for improved federal-state coordination is evident given the damage caused to our ecosystems and economy, the need to deploy limited resources efficiently and effectively, and the difficulties encountered by conservation practitioners at all levels of government when responding to threats and impacts of invasive species.The Task Team investigated this need by analyzing strengths and weaknesses and identifying commonalities from a suite of case studies representing various geopolitical scales including region/state level and multi-state/ landscape level invasive species management efforts. The following case studies are included in this report: Florida Invasive Species Partnership, Massachusetts Asian Longhorned Beetle Cooperative Eradication Program, Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee – Noxious Weed Sub-committee, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) and Western Regional Panel – Building Consensus in the West, Asian Carp Management and Control, and Greater Sage Grouse Conservation. Case studies are summarized in the body of the report and are included in their entirety in the appendix. These case studies were used to formulate key findings, three levels of conclusions, and recommendations to NISC. Key findings include recognition that “on-the-ground” results are the most important component of any invasive species program; success is most apparent at single species and/or smaller geographic scales; efforts that cross jurisdictional borders are hampered by inconsistent laws, policies, and priorities; insufficient funding and capacity hampers most invasive species efforts; and effective coordination can stretch resources and increase capacity.
Level 1 conclusions are focused on the need to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of federal-state communication. These include the need to establish a federal-state point person within the NISC Secretariat and to identify points of contact within both federal and state agencies. Level 2 conclusions address the need to strengthen federal-state partnerships and increase capacity through greater engagement by NISC Departments and the establishment of operating agreements or partnerships. The Level 3 conclusion identifies the need to explore options for addressing particularly large and complex multi-jurisdictional invasive species issues by considering new organizational and regulatory approaches. Examples include the creation of new commissions and modification of existing policy and regulations.
The Task Team recommends establishing a Coordinating Committee to conduct high-level policy and planning functions to advance federal-state coordination as set forth in the Executive Orders and the NISC Management Plan and to address the findings and conclusions of this report. Member- ship on this Coordinating Committee should be restricted to representatives from government (federal, state, municipal, territorial, tribal, etc.) in order to avoid the need to establish the group under the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
Comments
United States government work