Invasive Species: Federal and Selected State Funding to Address Harmful, Nonnative Species

摘要

Invasive species-harmful nonnative plants, animals, and microorganisms - pose a serious threat to U.S. agriculture and the environment, with estimated damages exceeding billions of dollars annually. Invasive species are found in all 50 states, with some states, such as Florida and Hawaii, more seriously affected than others. Examples of well-known invasive species include the zebra mussel (a mollusk that clogs water intake pipes and filtration equipment), the Asian long-horned beetle (an insect that bores into the trunk of a tree, outside the reach of pesticides), and purple loosestrife (a wetland plant that crowds out native plants and animals). In February 1999, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13112 to help prevent the introduction of invasive species; provide for their control; and minimize their impact on the economy, the environment, and human health. The order established the Invasive Species Council, made up of the heads of eight federal departments with various responsibilities for addressing invasive species, to provide for national leadership and coordination in federal invasive species activities. Inadequate coordination between various departments and other entities was identified by organizations such as the Office of Technology Assessment and the Congressional Research Service as a weakness hindering efforts in the past. The order calls for the Council to carry out a number of duties, including issuing a National Invasive Species Management Plan by August 3, 2000, that, among other things, recommends performance-oriented goals, objectives, and specific measures of success for federal departments' invasive species programs. This GAO reports provides information on federal and selected state funding of invasive species activities.