In a past BYGL, you may recall hearing about the National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW), coordinated by the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA). That BYGL Alert was simply an announcement of the efforts, shared what was happening, and was posted on the actual week of the Awareness Week. Today's Alert will not only share the upcoming dates and details of the week in February, but will also encourage engagement at the local level - including what you can do!
The following information has been provided by NAISMA, and includes five suggestions for individuals, organizations and agencies to participate in the 2025 National Invasive Species Awareness Week. NAISMA wants to salute all the ongoing efforts related to invasive species and allow people to connect and celebrate their achievements when it comes to raising awareness, reducing invasive species, and implementing management strategies for the unwanteds.
- Share the NISAW Webinar Series and Resources @ https://naisma.org/ with your networks.
- Learn about invasive species, especially those found in your region. Share what you know on social media using the free NISAW resource toolkit.@ https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ome00vMpVy6tKq_aRue8ThSDw4Ul3Z1D
- Communicate with your elected officials at the state, local, and national level about supporting invasive species prevention and management efforts and funding.
- Check out and promote PlayCleanGo @ https://naisma.org/programs/playcleango/ to prevent the spread of invasive species when recreating in the outdoors.
- Publicize any invasive species events on the NISAW event calendar. And, use the hashtags #NISAW and #InvasiveSpecies in publicity during the National Invasive Species Awareness Week.
NISAW is an international event to raise awareness about invasive species, the threat that they pose, and what can be done to prevent their spread. Representatives from local, state, federal, and regional organizations will be discussing legislation, policies, funding, and improvements that can be made to prevent and manage invasive species. From February 24 – 28, 2025, invasive species experts will come together in Washington, D.C., and virtually across North America, to inform and educate elected officials and agency leaders about prevention and management priorities. Partners around the country will be hosting local events to advocate to elected officials, decision-makers, and the public on how they can help to stop the spread of invasive species and protect our precious resources.
Invasive species impact everyone. When not monitored or controlled, invasive species can cause harm to our economy, environment, or human health. The term "invasive" is used for non-native species that grow and reproduce rapidly, displace native species, and cause major disturbances to the areas in which they are present. Invasive species, if left uncontrolled, can and will limit land and water use now and into the future. The longer we ignore the problem the harder and more expensive the battle for control will become.
Thankfully, there are solutions. By learning about invasive species and participating in national events, everyone, from elected officials to the general public, can work together to solve invasive species issues at local, state, tribal, regional, international, and national levels. Through education, information, and advocacy, we can help to stop the spread of invasive species in the nation’s lands, waterways, and everything in between. We can create positive outcomes in habitats. Every year NISAW aims to protect natural ecosystems from invasive species for the benefit of everyone.
How can you, organizations, and agencies participate? Individuals and groups are encouraged to come together in projects, events, and activities that promote stopping the spread of invasive species.
NAISMA hopes you make NISAW your own. Nobody knows your community’s invasive species challenges and potential solutions like you do. NAISMA would like you to share your success with the hashtags #NISAW, #NISAW2024, and #InvasiveSpecies and tag them @InvasiveSpeciesWeek on Facebook and communicate your thoughts, ideas and priorities to your elected officials.
Today's BYGL Alert is the first of several that you will see in the next 6 week's leading up to the National Invasive Species Awareness Week, and then of course, a daily series of invasive species that have made Ohio's Invasive Species Wall of Shame will also be shared during the Awareness Week. Feel free to share all of the Alerts, as well as the information from NAISMA, or any information that you have about invasive species.
Let the countdown begin: 45 days until the 2025 National Invasive Species Awareness Week.