What is an Invasive?
Invasive species are non-native organisms that are purposefully or accidentally introduced to an area and have the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, and/or to human health. Invasive species have several traits that allow them to outcompete native species, including a lack of natural predators and an ability to spread aggressively.
According to the US. Fish and Wildlife Service, costs of economic damages in the U.S. resulting from invasive species impacts are estimated at around 100 billion dollars each year. Invasive species also have substantial environmental damages. It has been reported that 133 million U.S. acres (the size of California and New York combined) are infested with invasive species and this area continues to increase by about 1.7 million acres per year. In 2006, the US. Forest Service stated that invasive species have lead to a 49% decrease in threated and endangered species survival rates.
Threats not only extend to invasive plants but to introduced insects, diseases, mollusks, mammals, fish, birds, and crustaceans. Each individual invasive presents its own range of difficulties when considering management and treatment techniques.
SMIST Priority Invasive Species
Beech Leaf Disease
Spotted Lanternfly
Black Swallow-wort & Pale Swallow-wort
Associated nematode - Litylenchus spp.
Black Swallow-wort & Pale Swallow-wort
Black Swallow-wort & Pale Swallow-wort
Vincetoxicum nigrum & Vincetoxicum rossicum
MORE ABOUT SMIST CISMA
CISMA stands for 'Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area' and acts as part of a coalition between non-profits, government agencies, tribal governments, businesses, and individuals for the purpose addressing regional invasive species. Methods used by individual CISMAs to manage invasive populations depends on region-specific challenges and the goals of local programs. Services may include educational outreach regarding the prevention, identification, reporting, and mapping of invasive species. A number of CISMAs also offer management services on public and/or private lands.
Branch, Hillsdale, and St. Joseph counties fall under the SMIST CISMA's service area. As a grant-funded program, methods used and services offered may change based on available funding. Depending on the year, the SMIST Strike Team may apply surveying, mapping, treating, and monitoring efforts to address invasives. Goat-grazing services and stem injector rentals may also be periodically offered. Each year, SMIST aims to supply continuous outreach through educational materials and informative talks.
