Good Things Are Happening, but the Best is Yet to Come The Politics of Fighting Invasives

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Good Things Are Happening, but the Best is Yet
to ComeThe Politics of Fighting Invasives

• Gretchen Wainwright
• William C. Janeway
• The Nature Conservancy, NY

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Name That Invasive!
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The Path to Dedicated Funding in NY

• August 11, 2003 Governor Pataki signed
  legislation sponsored by Senator Marcellino and
  Assemblyman DiNapoli creating the Invasive
  Species Task Force and calling for the Task Force
  to provide recommendations on Invasive Species
  issues to the Governor and Legislature by
  November 2005.
• Co-leaders NYS DEC and NYS DAM

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Task Force to Determine Actions to

• Prevent the introduction of invasive species
• Detect and respond rapidly to populations of
  invasive species in a cost-effective and
  environmentally sound manner
• Monitor invasive species populations accurately
  and reliably
• Provide for restoration of native species and
  habitat conditions in ecosystems that have been
  invaded
• Conduct research on invasive species and develop
  technologies to prevent introduction and
• Promote public education on invasive species and
  the means to address invasive species.

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In the meantime

• In 2005, Senator Little, a member of the Senate
  Environmental Conservation Committee, helped to
  secure 1 million in state funding for aquatic
  invasive species eradication projects

March 5, 2007 Senator Little recognized by a
Coalition of Adirondack Stakeholders for
Supporting Invasive Species Funding
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Task Force Recommendations

• Permanent Leadership Structure
• Comprehensive Invasive Species Management Plan
• Allocate Appropriate Resources
• Establish Education and Outreach Efforts
• Integrate Databases
• Convene a Regular Invasive Species Conference
• Formalize NY State Policy and Practices
• Establish a Center for Research
• Coordinate and Streamline Regulatory Processes
• Encourage Non-regulatory Approaches to Prevention
• Influence Federal Actions to Support NY
• Recognize and Fund Demonstration Projects

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Fast Forward to Today

• FY05-06 1M secured by Senator Little funded 31
  aquatic projects statewide
• FY06-07 NY State Budget included 3.25M dedicated
  funding for invasive species
• FY07-08 NY State Budget proposes 5 million

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So, everything is good. Right?

• ISTF Recommended (page 100)
• 10M in Dedicated Annual Funding
• Five to eight permanent staff (450-800K/year)
• Exploring alternate sources of revenue such as
  import/export fees at NY ports of entry,
  recreational fees for the use of boat launches
  and trailheads, the EPF, horticultural sales
  fees, State general funds

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What Needs to Happen

• Spitzers Proposed 07-08 Budget needs to Pass
• Expands EPF by 100 Million (to 325M) in 2
  years
• 5M dedicated to invasive species in 2007
• Environmental Protection Fund needs to continue
  to increase
• Goal is 500 M by 2010
• Goal is 10M for invasives by 2010
• Alternative and New Funding Sources Identified
• Approval of the Updated Bottle Bill
• Increases in DEC staff
• Dedicated to invasive species programs
• Additional staff in supporting roles and programs

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What you need to do to help

• Support the Proposed Spitzer Budget
• Expanded EPF, 5M invasives
• Support the Expanded Bottle Bill
• Unclaimed deposits as a source of revenue for a
  500M EPF (by 2010)
• Support Agency Staffing Increases
• Work Together to Secure Funding
• Contact your State Senator, Assemblyperson
• Worry about splitting it up later

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Answers and Questions

• Purple Loostrife
• Giant Hogweed
• Zebra Mussels
• Emerald Ash Borer
• Japanese Knotweed
• Phragmites

• Water Chestnut
• Asian Longhorned Beetle
• Glossy Buckthorn
• Garlic Mustard
• Swallow-wort

THANK YOU!!
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