2013

Schedule of Events
Ten Ways to Observe
Press Release
Sample Proclamation Declaring National Invasive Species Awareness Week

State, federal and local and tribal officials meet with NGO’s, industry and stakeholder groups addressing invasive species to examine laws, policies and creative approaches to prevent and reduce invasive species threats to our health, economy, environment and natural resources including special places. Attend events in the US Capitol and in Washington, DC or host your own event that explores local problems and solutions to invasive species.

Highlights include:

• Invasive Species and Fire — panel and discussion
• National Invasive Species Awards Ceremony
• Workshop: Legal and Policy Issues Containing Aquatic Invasive Species
• Congressional Reception with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
• Invasive Species Advisory Committee – Public Meeting
• Presentation on the invasive potential of bio-energy feedstocks
• Kids Invasive Species Day at the US Botanic Garden
• Invasive Species on the Menu: Asian Carp Fish Fry
• Invasive Species Impacts on Corporate Land
• Invasive Species Impacts on Corporate Lands – sponsored by the Wildlife Habitat Council

In addition to the National Invasive Species Council – NISAW partners include: the Weed Science Society of America, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), the Great Lakes Commission (GLC), the Center for Invasive Plant Management, the US Botanic Garden, the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds, the Federal Interagency Committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens, as well as numerous federal, state and local officials and private nonprofit and business groups and individuals. Our partner organizations also sponsored other events during the same week including: AFWA’s Teaming with Wildlife 2013 Fly-In Event in support of state and tribal wildlife plans; Great Lakes Day sponsored by the GLC, and other activities.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week or NISAW was from Feb. 26 to March 2, 2012. Over 800 people participated in Kids Invasive Species Day at the U.S. Botanic Garden. State, local, tribal and federal officials as well as representatives of business, environmental groups, private citizens participated at events held at Main Interior, the Department of Agriculture and the Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel. Over 100 people from across the U.S. participated. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, Lori Faeth, Catherine Woteki, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, John Goss, White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Asian Carp Director, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Lawrence J. Gumbiner provided opening presentations. The first ever National Invasive Species Awards were presented on behalf of NISC, ANSTF and FICMNEW. The Chief of the USDA Forest Service also gave out invasive species awards. US Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe addressed more than 300 people attending the NISAW/ AFWA Reception celebrating wildlife on Capitol Hill about the importance of preventing the introduction of invasive animals. The Defenders of Wildlife hosted a discussion of invasive species topic for the National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species at their headquarters. More than 140 people attended the Grassroots Invasive Species Forum and Webinar via the internet; and prevention and international cooperation topics were extensively reviewed. In addition, the National Park Service hosted the first ever Urban Invasive Species Forum. Many states and localities hosted their own invasive species events. The outcomes of these discussions are being pulled together for a report which will be posted on www.invasivespecies.gov and www.nisaw.org. Thanks to the MANY people, agencies and organizations who made NISAW happen!