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| Invasive Species Council of Maine | |
|---|---|
| Name | Invasive Species Council of Maine |
| Formation | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Augusta, Maine |
| Region served | Maine |
| Leader title | Chair |
Invasive Species Council of Maine
The Invasive Species Council of Maine is a state-level advisory body that coordinates responses to non-native pests, Invasive species, and Noxious weed threats across the U.S. state of Maine. It brings together representatives from state agencies, federal partners such as the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, tribal governments including the Passamaquoddy, and non-governmental organizations like the Nature Conservancy and the Maine Audubon Society. The council informs policy, prioritizes management actions, and supports monitoring efforts in collaboration with academic institutions such as the University of Maine and federal research bodies including the United States Geological Survey.
The council was formed in response to growing concerns about species such as European green crab, Didymo, Purple loosestrife, Emerald ash borer, and Asian long-horned beetle that affected coastal, freshwater, and forest ecosystems in Maine. Early membership included officials from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and municipal representatives from cities like Portland, Maine and Bangor, Maine. Influences on its creation included national initiatives such as the National Invasive Species Council and regional efforts like the Northeast Aquatic Nuisance Species Panel, alongside scientific input from researchers at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station.
The council’s stated mission emphasizes prevention, rapid response, control, and public engagement to reduce ecological and economic impacts of invasive organisms. Objectives align with federal frameworks like the Executive Order 13112 and regional strategies developed with partners including the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Tools (NISC) initiatives. It prioritizes pathways of introduction such as ballast water linked to shipping that calls at ports like Portland, Maine and Bar Harbor, Maine, and overland transport corridors including Interstate 95 in Maine.
Membership comprises appointed representatives from state agencies, federal partners, tribal governments, academic institutions, and conservation NGOs. The council is chaired by a rotating representative from agencies such as the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or the Maine Forest Service, and includes liaisons from federal entities like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. Technical working groups include specialists from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and researchers affiliated with the Colby College and the Bates College biology departments, while administrative support is provided by staff from the Maine Governor’s Office.
Programs address aquatic and terrestrial threats with projects such as early detection monitoring for Zebra mussel incursions, eradication campaigns targeting Giant hogweed, and habitat restoration where Himalayan balsam or Phragmites have disrupted wetlands. Initiatives include a Rapid Response Fund modeled after federal emergency response mechanisms used by the United States Forest Service and coordinated invasive species strike teams similar to those organized by the Southeastern Invasive Plant Management (SE-EPPC). The council supports citizen science platforms in collaboration with the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program and national databases like the Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System.
The council maintains partnerships with federal agencies such as the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the National Park Service, academic partners including the University of New England (United States) and Colby College, and conservation organizations like the Audubon Society of Maine and the Maine League of Conservation Voters. It collaborates with regional bodies including the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission and international stakeholders involved with the International Maritime Organization on ballast water management. Cooperative agreements often involve municipal governments of locales such as Kennebunkport, Maine and tribal nations including the Penobscot Nation.
The council provides technical guidance for state statutes and regulations administered by the Maine Legislature and agencies such as the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. It submits recommendations informed by federal laws like the Lacey Act and consults on state-level invasive species rules that intersect with statutes such as the Maine Endangered Species Act and habitat protections overseen by the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission. The council has testified before legislative committees and contributed to state invasive species management plans that align with national policies from the National Invasive Species Council.
Outreach efforts include educational campaigns modeled after programs by the Smithsonian Institution and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, guidance for recreational users such as anglers affiliated with the Maine Sportfishing Association, and materials distributed through libraries in communities like Augusta, Maine and schools within the Maine School Administrative Districts. The council partners with media organizations including the Bangor Daily News and public broadcasters such as Maine Public Broadcasting Network to raise awareness, and supports training workshops for volunteers organized with groups like the Coastal Enterprises, Inc. and local watershed associations.
Category:Organizations based in Maine