Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Recommendations to NISC from the ISAC Meeting held December 6-8, 2011


December 20, 2011

TO: Members of the National Invasive Species Council (NISC)
SUBJECT: Recommendations to NISC from the ISAC Meeting held December 6-8, 2011
During the December 6-8, 2011 meeting held in Washington, DC, ISAC agreed upon the following recommendations:

Recommendation #1: ISAC recommends that NISC support and encourage the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences review of frameworks for the validation of advanced molecular assays for aquatic invasive species detection technologies and their protocols.

Recommendation #2: Expanding trade across the Pacific poses a dual challenge to the control of invasive species. First, there is a high potential for introductions of new species in both directions.
Second, there is a high potential that some introduced species will become invasive because of similarities between the climates and ecology of central and eastern Asia and North America.
In light of these challenges and the potential negative impacts of the introduction of invasive species in either direction across the Pacific on the economies and environment of the U.S. and its trading partners in eastern Asia, ISAC recommends that the Department of State seek the cooperation of appropriate agencies in convening a multilateral meeting of scientists and governmental representatives from APEC countries to develop measures to prevent the introduction of invasive species in the course of transpacific commerce.

Recommendation #3: ISAC recommends that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers immediately reinstate the funding for the Aquatic Plant Control Research Program due to its national importance in the control and management of aquatic invasive plants.

Sincerely
E. Ann Gibbs
Chair, Invasive Species Advisory Committee
Maine Department of Agriculture

No comments: