NAISN Launches New Informational Website

NAISN Launches New Informational Website – www.naisn.org 

The North American Invasive Species Network (NAISN) has launched a new informational website (www.naisn.org), which provides a wide variety of invasive species management and research resources, links to a multitude of potential partner organizations, and access to streamlined data-sharing platforms for users throughout the USA, Canada, and Mexico. 

NAISN website development and design was undertaken by three of the eight NAISN member hubs: the Center for Invasive Species Management, Montana State University; the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, University of Georgia; and the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida. 

NAISN is an American 501(c)3 non-profit, science-based organization that was formed in 2010 by university and government scientists and invasive species specialists from across North America. Mexico and Canada participate as NAISN members through a Memorandum of Understanding. 

Because invasive species cross governmental jurisdictional boundaries, NAISN aims to unify and connect existing regional invasive species management and prevention efforts into a single network to improve communication, collaboration, and overall coordination in North America. Its overall goal is to enhance multi-jurisdictional responses to biological invasions across the continent. NAISN membership is targeted toward regional university centers and institutes, government institutions, non-profit organizations, research labs, and/or other groups and individuals with invasive species interests and qualifications that are valuable to the mission of NAISN. 

In addition to serving as a North American focal point for invasive species management, policy, outreach, and research information, the NAISN website also (1) showcases the NAISN organization and the services it offers; (2) provides direct links to the Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN) and the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) database systems—platforms for viewing existing and uploading new invasive species data; and (3) provides a compendium of North American invasive species organizations.

We encourage you to visit www.naisn.org, share your work and data, and consider joining NAISN as a member. Feel free to email suggestions or feedback to naisn.webmaster@gmail.com.

Cogongrass Invades the South

It grows on every continent except Antarctica and has earned a reputation as one of the worst weeds on earth. Now, according to U.S. Forest Service emeritus scientist Jim Miller, cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is one of the most threatening invasive species in the South.

http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/2013/06/18/cogongrass-invades-the-south/

Worldwide Cooperation Fighting Invasive Species

Center Co-director, Dr. Keith Douce recently completed a trip to France and Switzerland where he met with and discussed ongoing programs and collaboration opportunities between The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health and:

• The leadership of The European and Mediterranean Plant Pest Organization (EPPO);
• Dr. Alain Roques and other members of The Forest Entomology Section of the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Station de Zoologie Forestière, Orléans, France;
• Dr. Marc Kenis, Head of Forestry and Ornamental Pest Research, and other CABI project leaders and associates at the CABI Delemont, Switzerland station.

While in Europe Dr. Douce had a chance to review the newly released, Insects and Diseases Damaging Trees and Shrubs of Europe which was edited by Milan Zùbrik (Head of Department of Forest Protection and Game Management, National Forest Centre, Zvolen, Slovak Republic); Andrej Kunca (Head of Forest Protection Service, Forest Research Institute, Banská Štiavnica, Slovak Republic); and György Csòka (Head of Forest Research Institute, Department of Forest Protection, Mátrafüred, Hungary).

Prominent forest protection experts from across Europe joined together to create this book: a comprehensive atlas to the world of insects and diseases damaging trees and shrubs in Europe.

The book is easy to use and the pests are arranged by the tree species on which they occur.

Information about each pests include: scientific name; common English name; life cycle; description of the life stages; significance (importance in Central Europe); and known distribution.

The book is richly illustrated by over 4,300 unique colour photographs (many of which were taken by the editors themselves), showing more than 1,100 species of insects and diseases causing damage to tree species and shrubs in Europe. Many of these and other images have been shared with Bugwood Images by the photographers.

• Milan Zùbrik's Images
• Andrej Kunca's Images
• György Csòka's Images

The green menace strikes again! Human health effects of Emerald Ash Borer

Steven Valley, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org

PBS NewsHour just published a piece on How Removing Trees Can Kill You as related to the loss of ash in Detroit, Michigan as a result of Emerald Ash Borer. 

Geoffrey Donovan noted "Increased rates of death from cardiovascular and lower respiratory mortality in the counties with emerald ash borer. And interestingly, what we found was the effect got bigger the longer you had an infestation, which makes sense because it takes two to five years for a tree to die typically."

I've always touted the fact that trees in urban environments make it a better place to live. It takes something like this to make you appreciate just how important they can be!