The Annual National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) is less than one week away!
What is NISAW?
NISAW is a nationwide event to raise awareness about invasive species, the threat they pose, and what can be done to prevent their spread. NISAW’s goal is to educate citizens, policymakers, agency leaders, and elected officials in Washington, D.C., and across North America about the threats invasive species pose and what can be done to stop the spread.
Throughout the week, representatives from local, state, and regional organizations gather in Washington, D.C., and online to discuss legislation and policies that can be made to prevent and manage invasive species. Across the country, partners hold public events to educate the public and elected officials about how they can help to stop the spread of invasive species.
2023 Priorities
The main policy issues related to invasive species that NISAW is focusing on this year are:
- Biodiversity
- Climate Change
- The Farm Bill
- Infrastructure
- Mussels and other Aquatic Invasive Species
- Forest Health
Click on each of the above links or here to learn more about all of the important policy issues NISAW is focusing on in 2023!
How can I get involved?
- Share on Social Media
Our free toolkit makes it easy to advocate and spread the word about invasive species! Simply NISAW’s site for a variety of graphics and sample social media posts that you can copy and share on your accounts. Don’t forget to add the hashtag #NISAW and follow us on Facebook to share our posts.
Pro tip: During NISAW (Feb 20-26th) we recommend sharing one header image a day for each policy issue. Simply start with the image at the top of the toolkit and work your way down. Together we can flood social feeds with the same graphics and our collective voice advocating for the good of the environment!
- Contact Your Representatives
An easy way to get involved in NISAW is to contact your Senators and Representatives and ask for support! On each NISAW policy page there is a link to “take action” with a form to directly contact your Senators and Representatives.
Signing a muster is so easy to do! When you type in your address, the form will automatically send a pre-written message about the policy issue to your delegates in Congress. Once you’ve completed the form, share the link on social media and encourage others to do the same!
- Attend Webinars
All week long NAISMA is hosting free webinars in honor of NISAW! Webinar start times and lengths vary. Get more information and register for each webinar by clicking the title below:
Monday, 2/20 | Invasive Species Programs Across Mexico
Tuesday, 2/21 | USGS Invasive Species Research Unit: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Projects and the Effects of Climate Change on Invasive Species
Wednesday, 2/22 | The Water Resources Development Act: Provisions for Invasive Species Prevention and Management
Thursday, 2/23 | Collaboratively Addressing Feral Swine/Wild Pigs and Preparing for African Swine Fever across North America
Friday, 2/24 | American Bullfrog Management to Support Conservation and Recovery of Native Species in the West
- Give Back and Sponsor NISAW
There’s still time to join us as a NISAW sponsor! Sponsoring NISAW allows for your brand to get further reach through logo placement on our NAISMA.org and NISAW.org. There’s power in partnership – sponsorship between two aligned organizations can make a huge difference for our causes.
Individuals are also encouraged to make a donation to NISAW! Giving back helps us spread the word and increase awareness about the dangers of invasive species. With your support, NISAW can change the environment and the world for the better.
Thank you to current sponsors and donors who have already committed to supporting NISAW 2023!
Not sure where to start? Choose just one thing to do from the list above and share with a friend – a ripple effect will follow. We can all do our part to raise awareness about invasive species!
