Advisory Committee Charts a Path Forward for Controlling Destructive Invasive Species

Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON—After being disbanded in 2019, newly appointed members of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC) gathered this week to discuss strategies to prevent, eradicate and control invasive species, which impose substantial costs on society and cause damages that impact the global economy, including an estimated $120 billion in environmental damages and losses annually in the United States.

Chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and managed by the Department of the Interior, the ISAC has provided valuable input to the National Invasive Species Council on a wide range of federal priorities and emerging issues since it was created in 1999. 

The Council comprises the senior leadership of 12 federal departments and agencies, and four executive offices of the President. Co-chairs are the secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture and Commerce. The interagency body provides the vision and national leadership to coordinate, sustain and expand federal efforts to safeguard the interests of the United States through the prevention, eradication and control of invasive species, and through the restoration of ecosystems and other assets impacted by invasive species.

During this week’s meeting, ISAC members and other subject matter experts provided updates on priorities such as implementation of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, early detection and rapid response, wildland fire, climate change and underserved communities.

ISAC members represent a broad range of expertise and stakeholder interests that includes non-federal government agencies; academia, research institutions and scientific societies; the private sector and industry/trade associations; conservation and land management organizations; landowners, farmers, ranchers, foresters and other resource users; public health specialists; education and outreach specialists; regional organizations; and citizen scientists, recreationists and other public interest groups.

The new ISAC members were appointed on December 23, 2022, by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. Membership includes 13 voting members:

• Charles T. Bargeron, IV, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, University of Georgia (interim chair)
• Laura Brewington, Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, Arizona State University
• Carrie J. Brown-Lima, Cornell University
• Leah Elwell, Invasive Species Action Network
• Slade Franklin, Wyoming Department of Agriculture
• Leigh F. Greenwood, The Nature Conservancy
• Jack Hicks, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
• Jiri Hulcr, Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, University of Florida
• Christy Martin, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit / Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, University of Hawai'i
• David Pegos, California Department of Food and Agriculture
• LeRoy Rodgers, South Florida Water Management District
• Lizbeth Ann Seebacher, Pacific Northwest Invasive Plant Council, University of Washington
• Paul Zajicek, National Aquaculture Association

and four non-voting, ex-officio members representing stakeholder non-governmental organizations:

• Elizabeth Brown, North American Invasive Species Management Association
• Laurel James, Native American Fish and Wildlife Society
• Steven H. Long, National Plant Board
• William Simshauser, National Association of Conservation Districts

Ex-officio members from several national organizations and associations engaged in addressing invasive species and their impacts may also be appointed.

For more information, visit the Invasive Species Advisory Committee website.

###