New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Agriculture and Markets have announced that the seventh annual Invasive Species Awareness Week (ISAW) will be held June 7-13.
ISAW is an annual statewide campaign with the purpose of building an awareness of the threat invasive species pose to New York States ecosystem. This year, considering the COVID-19 public health crises, organizations taking part in ISAW are encouraged to plan and incorporate virtual experiences and events that adhere to social distancing guidelines. This would allow New Yorkers to participate in ISAW from the safety of their homes.
Last year, NYS agencies and local groups held over 180 events, encouraging New Yorkers to become proactive in protecting their communities from the threat of invasive species.
“New Yorkers are a critical component of our invasive species outreach programs, helping us to monitor for invasives and slow the damage that they do to our natural resources and agricultural industries, we encourage New Yorkers to take part in some virtual experiences this Invasive Species Awareness Week and learn more about how to spot these non-native species and protect our agricultural industry and the environment.” said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball in a press release.
The ISAW was created in 2014, with the objective of educating the public about the negative impact invasives have on our ecosystem, encouraging New Yorkers to be proactive in stopping their spread. New York is a center of international trade and travel, making it particularly vulnerable to invasive species. Managing invasives has to be a consistent effort made by our community as a whole.
If you are interested in hosting an event, visit https://nyisaw.org/scheduling-an-event/ for more information. Partners should provide their local PRISM coordinators with information on local events by Monday, May 25.
To learn more about ISAW, or find a local PRISM website, please visit New York Invasive Species Awareness Week website
For me the worst invasive species in the Adirondacks is those mini-human species who talk funny and almost always become attached to the larger regular-sized humans, they seem to have infested many of the easier mountain peaks like Baxter. Some versions of these mini-humans even poop in specially designed underware. I have inquired into how to get rid of them if one happens attach themselves onto me, but this usually results in the fine Keene Valley Police escorting me home.