Principal Investigator: Walter S. Kordek, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Years Funded: 2012-2014
Project Description:
Invasive species can be a costly issue that can negatively affect our environment and our economy. In West Virginia, industries threatened by invasive species, such as wood products and natural resource-based tourism, account for over $5.3 billion annually. The need for a plan of action arose to control the spread and propagation of these invasive species. However, the control of spread of invasive species in West Virginia was a particularly difficult issue to tackle as there is no single authority responsible for facilitating coordination and information sharing between agencies, private landowners, and other organizations. To solve this problem, the research team developed the West Virginia Invasive Species Strategic Plan (WVISSP), which lays the framework for future funding, management, research, and education of invasive species projects.
The WVISSP describes the status of invasive species in West Virginia, their economic and biological impacts, and outlines goals, strategies, and actions that will help align individual management plans with state and federal objectives. The plan identifies administrative responsibilities that need to be carried out to ensure it is put to use, as well as management outcomes that creators expect to see as a result of the plan. One can learn and see more about other Mid-Atlantic’s states management plans on our State Management Plan page.
Publications: West Virginia Invasive Species Strategic Plan and Voluntary Guidelines
Photo: Emerald Ash Borer, Credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture