Member Organizations

HUBS

 

California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC)

Berkeley, California, USA
www.cal-ipc.org

Mission: To protect California’s lands and waters from ecologically-damaging invasive plants through science, education and policy.
Primary focus: Outreach and education
Geographic scope: California

Cal-IPC formed in 1992 to address one of California’s top environmental threats. It works closely with agencies, industry and other nonprofit organizations. Active membership includes public and private land managers, ecological consultants and researchers, planners, volunteer stewards, and concerned citizens.

Cal-IPC maintains the California Invasive Plant Inventory, a comprehensive list of invasive plants based on ecological impacts. It also offers training to restoration workers, as well as detailed reference materials and news on on the latest techniques. The organization enhances dialogue between researchers and land managers on invasive plant biology, ecology and management and increases public awareness of invasive plants through outreach materials and presentations.

Cal-IPC pursues improvement of invasive plant policy through advocacy events and grassroots organizing, often working with other groups through the California Invasive Weeds Awareness Coalition (CALIWAC). It also extends education to nurseries and gardeners to address this major pathway for introduction of invasive plants. Cal-IPC's Don’t Plant a Pest! brochures suggest safe landscaping alternatives. It works with nursery and landscape trade organizations as part of the PlantRight campaign to develop voluntary industry measures.

 

Canada-Ontario Invasive Species Centre

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
www.invasivespeciescentre.ca

Mission: To enhance coordination of natural and socio-economic scientific research, technology and knowledge transfer, and public outreach and communications to mitigate the ecological and economic threats of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species.
Primary focus: Outreach and education
Geographic scope: Great Lakes Region (Canada and USA)

The Canada-Ontario Invasive Species Centre (ISC) is a not-for-profit entity which is co-located with the Great Lakes Forestry Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. While the immediate focus of the ISC is Ontario and the Great Lakes, there are linkages to adjacent provinces and the US Great Lakes states. The ISC will be an important part of Canada's and Ontario's efforts in response to invasive species and the ever-increasing threats that they pose from both ecological and socio-economic perspectives. By forging a strong network among federal and provincial government agencies, academia, municipalities, First Nations, industry, and non-government organizations, the ISC will become a model of public and government cooperation and collaboration in response to the challenges posed by invasive species.

Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

Gainesville, Florida, USA
plants.ifas.ufl.edu

Mission: To inform and educate all stakeholders about the impacts and management of invasive plants.
Primary focus: Outreach and education
Geographic scope: Florida

Housed within the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (CAIP) is a multidisciplinary research, teaching, and Extension unit directed to develop environmentally sound techniques for the management of aquatic and natural area weed species and to coordinate aquatic plant research activities within the State of Florida. The Center was established in 1978 by the Florida legislature. Directed by Dr. Bill Haller, the Center utilizes expertise from many departments within UF/IFAS and its Agricultural Research and Education Centers throughout Florida.

Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

Tifton, Georgia, USA
www.bugwood.org

Mission: To serve a lead role in development, consolidation and dissemination of information and programs focused on invasive species, forest health, natural resource and agricultural management through technology development, program implementation, training, applied research and public awareness at the state, regional, national and international levels.
Primary focus: Outreach and education
Geographic scope: Southeast USA

Housed within the University of Georgia's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health (CISEH) provides a wide range of invasive species information and services to Extension agents, specialists, and clientele across the southeastern US, nationally, and internationally. Goals of CISEH are to: serve as a preeminent national and international public service and outreach center; develop collaboration between UGA and state, university, federal, and international partners; integrate and develop information and programs; produce web sites, publications, posters and presentations; serve as a clearing house for information, applied research and training; and promote public awareness, education and applied research.

Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO)

Mexico City, Mexico
www.conabio.gob.mx

Mission: To promote, coordinate, support, and carry out activities aimed at increasing awareness of biodiversity and its conservation and sustainable use for the benefit of society.
Primary focus: Outreach and education
Geographic scope: Mexico

The Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO) is a bridge between academia, government, and civil society that offers its users the knowledge generated by scientists on biodiversity in Mexico. For its work and results, CONABIO is recognized as one of the foremost institutions of its kind in the world. The goal of CONABIO's Invasive Species Program is to contribute to the conservation of the natural capital and human welfare through actions focused on increasing and spreading knowledge of invasive species in Mexico. CONABIO gathers and produces data on invasive species in Mexico; has a rapid screening method for assessing invasive species in Mexico; collaborates on regional, national, and international projects; analyzes the effects of climate change and economic impacts of invasive species; and is currently coordinating a project to implement Mexico's National Invasive Species Strategy at the national level.

 

National Institute of Invasive Species Science

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
www.niiss.org

Mission: To work with others to coordinate data and research from many sources to predict and reduce the effects of harmful non-native plants, animals, and diseases in natural areas and throughout the US with a strategic approach to information management, research, modeling, technical assistance, and outreach.
Primary focus: EDRR and invasive species mapping
Geographic scope: USA

The National Institute of Invasive Species Science (NIISS) is a consortium of government and non-government organizations formed to develop cooperative approaches for invasive species science that meet the urgent needs of land managers and the public. Administratively housed within the US Geological Survey, the aim of NIISS is to provide reliable information and advanced decision support tools for documenting, understanding, predicting, assessing, and addressing the threat of invasive species in the United States.

NIISS provides national leadership in the area of invasive species science and works with others to disseminate and synthesize current, accurate data and research to detect, predict, and reduce the effects of harmful nonnative plants, animals, and diseases in ecosystems and natural areas throughout the United States.

 

Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN)

Lisle, Illinois, USA
www.mipn.org

Mission: To reduce the impact of invasive plant species in the Midwest.
Primary focus: EDRR and invasive species mapping
Geographic scope: Upper Midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, and the Province of Ontario, Canada.

The Midwest Invasive Plant Network is dedicated to the development of invasive species spread prevention measures, particularly those that engage the green (nursery and landscape) industry.  It promotes Early Detection and Rapid Response programs and methods as well as consistent regional methods for inventorying, monitoring and tracking invasive plants.  It also encourages cross-boundary data sharing and serves as a bridge between the research and land-management communities by compiling and sharing research findings with land-managers and communicating research needs observed by partners in the field to research institutions.  MIPN develops regional outreach and education resources, including publications and presentations at various conferences.

 

Texas Invasive Species Institute

Huntsville, Texas, USA
www.tsusinvasives.org

Mission: To provide early detection and rapid response to invasive species in Texas and the western Gulf Coast; and to serve as a comprehensive center to deal with invasive species issues.
Primary focus: EDRR research and invasive species mapping
Geographic scope: Texas and the western Gulf Coast of the U.S.

The Texas Invasive Species Institute (TISI) is the first comprehensive effort in Texas that is focused on research and coordinating the effective early detection and rapid response to multiple new invasive species that currently impact, or have the potential to impact, ecosystems and produce major economic effects. TISI incorporates the expertise of over 40 Ph.D. level researchers to manage invasive species issues. This comprehensive institute incorporates early detection and rapid response, research on invasive species, GIS mapping and modeling of invasive species, outreach and education, and provides taxonomic expertise for invasive species detection. Housed at Sam Houston State University, this institute coordinates and combines expertise from across the Texas State University System.