NAISMA Messages on Environmental/Social Impacts of Invasive Species

The NAISMA committee on membership, marketing, and communication has contributed to these messages that connect the impacts of invasive species with environmental, economic, social, and human health impacts of land and water issues.

Agriculture, Forestry, and Horticulture

• As global movement increases, so does the potential for invasive species to be unintentionally introduced to the North American landscape through travel and trade. Both natural ecosystems and agricultural operations are susceptible to the harms caused by invasive species.
• People have intentionally introduced some invasive species for reasons including erosion control, forage and specialty market crops, novel livestock species, and ornamental landscaping. It is important to be aware of the invasive potential of introduced species and to enact measures that prevent species’ spread outside of their intended use.

The good news: Invasive species prevention methods are effective. NAISMA supports responsible implementation of practices and policies that keep lands and waters productive while preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species. 

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Climate Change

• • Invasive species and climate change interact to increase habitat disturbances and magnify the negative impact of both threats to the North American environment. (See Double Trouble, UMass)
  • Some invasive species can act as factors in worsening the risks of climate change, such as pests that kill trees that capture and store carbon.

The good news: Understanding the interaction of climate change and invasive species can empower the invasive species manager to adapt their management strategies. Staying vigilant for new invasions and using reporting tools such as EDDMapS will help prevent invasive species from spreading. Advocating for policies that prevent the introduction of new species is another vital tool; as policy-makers take climate change impacts into consideration, there are new opportunities for advocating for invasive species management.

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Endangered Species

• Many species listed as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Canadian Species At Risk Act are at risk because of competition with and predation by non-native species. 

The good news: Preventing invasive species introduction and spread helps protect endangered species. The Endangered Species Act  and Species At Risk Act work to empower managers to protect habitat, including invasive species management.

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Habitat and Wildlife

• Invasive species have competitive advantages and occupy ecological niches that would otherwise be utilized by native species. 
• Invasive species can create barriers to normal ecological functions.
• Noxious weeds reduce game habitat and can reduce forage value. 
• Invasive species can be poisonous to native wildlife and livestock.  

The good news: We can preserve, protect, and restore North American habitats to offset invasive species’ cascading effects on ecosystems. NAISMA offers professional development resources to increase the knowledge and effectiveness of invasive species managers everywhere.

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Natural Resources

• Natural resource extraction can disturb and degrade vegetative communities which aids the introduction and spread of invasive species. Likewise, construction required to access and maintain infrastructure for all energy transmission (including renewable energy) can also introduce and spread invasive species. 
• Our natural resources provide water for drinking, irrigation, and industry, raw materials for energy and building, medicinal research opportunities, and many other benefits for growing economies. 

The good news: Prevention efforts such as Work.Clean.Go. can help to mitigate impacts on the landscape to lessen the risk of introduction & spread of invasive species.  

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Wildfire

• Invasive species can fuel wildfires, either by serving as fuel itself (such as cheatgrass) or by pests killing trees, thus adding to the dry fuel load as fire spreads across a landscape.
• Invasive species can spread as a result of wildfire control efforts. Equipment, tools, and firefighting gear can transport invasive species from one wildfire assignment to the next. Aerial water drawn from one watershed and dropped to fight a fire in another watershed can potentially contaminate a water body with invasive species. Post-fire restoration efforts also have potential to introduce or spread invasive species.
• Wildfire is a disturbance mechanism that opens the land for new infestations.

The good news: Simple prevention efforts such as Work.Clean.Go and using Certified Weed Free products in restoration efforts minimize harm to the landscape. NAISMA offers professional development resources to increase the knowledge and effectiveness of invasive species managers.