2020 Year In Review

 

2020
Year In Review

 In a year like no other, NAISMA continued to push forward and grow its organizational reach. NAISMA’s mission is to support, promote, and empower invasive species prevention and management in North America. Here are a few ways we worked to meet that mission in the year 2020.
 
 

 

Organizational Reach

NAISMA created a toolkit for agencies, organizations, educators, businesses and individuals to share materials and promote National Invasive Species Awareness Week 2020.

We also hosted a webinar series that saw staggering success with more than 1,500 total attendees.

New Committee Formed

In 2020, NAISMA formed the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) Committee. The group has published the organization's first Diversity & Inclusion Statement and is setting goals for 2021.

Two New Position Papers

1. The Use of Pesticides in Invasive Species Management

2. Transportation Funding

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Strategic Partnerships

In 2020, NAISMA signed MOUs regarding use of our PlayCleanGo branding with the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Forever, as well as CONABIO (the Mexican government’s agency for conservation and biodiversity) and had major support from USDA APHIS.

Membership

"NAISMA is an organization that allows you to network with other invasive species professionals on a national and international level, and bring new techniques, technology, and knowledge to your community."
Ethan Proud
Archuleta County

Weed & Pest Supervisor

In 2020, NAISMA had 424 members, including 64 partner organizations.

Membership increased more than 140% in 2020

Join today to be a part of a network of peers supporting invasive species management in North America!
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New member benefit: First Fridays

Members gather the First Friday of each month on a networking call. Each month they sound off around a topic such as the effects of COVID-19 on field work, career paths in invasive species management, advocacy, and more.

Professional Development

21 Free Webinars
Offered webinars for free during the live viewing. Saw thousands of participants throughout the year.
Virtual Annual Conference
For the first time ever, we created a virtual setting for our annual conference. More than 375 attended from 43 U.S. states and 8 Canadian provinces! We offered 25+ sessions throughout the week.
Biocontrol Summit
400+ attendees learned the latest updates on biocontrol of invasive species at this full day virtual event.
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NAISMA’s Board of Directors wanted to extend some free online education to the community during this difficult time. In response to the pandemic, we unlocked our webinar library for the month of April. The library is NAISMA’s most popular member benefit and many non-members took advantage of this resource during the month it was available.

Online ISM Training Program

NAISMA continues to offer online training in Invasive Species Management. This certificate program is more important than ever before given the barriers to in-person learning. Registration for Spring 2021 is open.
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PlayCleanGo

PlayCleanGo® is NAISMA’s outreach and education program. We provide materials to land managers and partner to help educate recreationists on doing their part to prevent the spread of invasive species.

Materials updated or created this year:
  • Redesigned PlayCleanGo partner library for ease-of-use and relevancy.
  • Launched PlayCleanGo boot brush station with a redesigned sign design and offered full product for purchase.
  • Launched “Watch Out!” weed cards.
  • Offered Buckthorn Blasters and other prevention tools for sale.
  • Updated 9×12 trail sign design.
Learn More Here
Translated Materials
Created Spanish-translated trail signs and outreach materials to be used within the U.S. and distributed to our partners in Mexico.
Supported Local Organizations
Supported hundreds of local organizations by providing messaging and marketing materials, as well as installed prevention tools.
Collaborations
Worked with USDA-APHIS and Don't Move Firewood to market PlayCleanGo Awareness Week. Also signed a memorandum of agreement with the Continental Divide Trail Coalition to bring boot brush stations to the trail.
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Number of boot brush stations and trail signs installed in 2020.
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In 2020, PlayCleanGo reached more than 3 million people through social media and digital marketing.

Certified Weed-Free Products

The Certified Weed-Free Products program is the only program in North America that provides land managers with assurance that noxious weeds will not be spread through the movement of forage, hay, mulch, or gravel brought in to the property. Weed Free Products maintains a list of standards, provides guidelines, and ensures uniform training and participation.

With USDA APHIS support to expand the program to the Eastern U.S., the Certified Weed Free Products program added mulch to its standards and certification trainings offerings.
In 2020, an Eastern U.S. Advisory Committee was formed and efforts to expand to Canada have begun.
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Total number of participating states. Five were added this year.
Learn More Here