National Invasive Species Awareness Week

National Invasive Species Awareness Week

February 21-27, 2016 - Save the Date! NISAW Fair/reception in room B-354 of the Rayburn House Office building, Washington DC, from 4 pm-7pm, February 25

National Invasive Species Awareness Week is a great time to get started on management and control of invasive species. Start by constructing a management plan or meeting with a committee to implement the control. Take time to plan an event or join a working group with the same goals as you on controlling invasives. Talk with a representative to encourage more funds and research for fighting these species that are rapidly invading our forests and parks.

It is also a great time to learn about new invasives so you can hit the ground running this spring. A new invasive of concern to our region is the wavyleaf basketgrass (Oplismenus undulatifolius)……WLBG has been found too difficult to control in the Mid-Atlantic region by cut, pull, and spray. It is the species most in need of biological control research in our region. (Now that Japanese Stiltgrass is already being researched by the $50,000 USFS grant). We can also facilitate biocontrol research on Fig Buttercup/Lesser Celandine. We will have a table at the congressional reception, with the annual NISAW fair, on Feb 25. Please come and join us at the table if you can. Please send handouts, including items on invasive species control important for your locations to present at our table.  Congressional staff and other guests will be invited to arrive at 4pm to interact with exhibitors, and around 4:30 pm the food will begin to be served.  The program will begin at 5 pm and continue to about 6 pm, and the reception will continue until 7 pm.  At 7 pm, exhibitors will be asked to pack up their exhibits, and we have to vacate the room by 8pm.  Congressional staff really like hands-on exhibits, so all exhibitors should try to be creative in that regard. Realize that most of the Congressional staff attending were likely government majors in college, so select and tailor your materials to effectively educate non-biologists.

Damien P. Ossi,

Chair of the board of the Mid-Atlantic-Invasive Plant Council

Wildlife Biologist

Fisheries and Wildlife Division

Department of Energy & Environment

Government of the District of Columbia

1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor

Washington, DC 20002

Desk: (202) 741-0840

Web: doee.dc.gov

Susan Parker
Agricultural Pest Survey Programs Specialist
West Virginia Department of Agriculture
PO Box 9 New Creek WV 26743
Office (304) 788-1066
Call (304) 813-1738
Fax (304) 788-9011

Marc Imlay, PhD, Chair, MAIPC Biological control working Group Conservation biologist,

Park Ranger Office, Non-native Invasive Plant Control coordinator. Marc.Imlay@pgparks.com

(301) 442-5657 cell  Natural and Historical Resources Division

The  Maryland-National   Capital   Park  and Planning Commission

Scott J. Cameron                                                 

President

Reduce Risks from Invasive Species Coalition

703 909 2880 | Scott.Cameron@rrisc.org | rrisc.org

RRISC is a 501(c)(3) Tax Deductible Charitable Organization