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Invasive Species Working Group – Brief History

 The Invasive Species Working Group (ISWG) was formed at the request of The Wildlife Society (TWS) in November 2005. Interim working group status was granted by TWS Council in March 2006.  Since that time, the interim officers of the ISWG have worked towards achieving official TWS working group status by accomplishing several goals: 

1.       develop a draft charter for TWS approval;

2.       elect officers;

3.       attain a minimum membership of 50 TWS members;

 4.       and give evidence that the working group is capable of making a substantial contribution to the wildlife profession. 

To date, the ISWG has developed a charter for TWS approval and attained a membership of 65 TWS members.  Election of officers is planned for summer 2009.   The ISWG began showing evidence that the working group can make a substantial contribution to the wildlife profession by sponsoring two half day symposia on invasive vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant species at the 2008 TWS conference in Miami, Florida. The goals of the ISWG are to:

1.       Facilitate communication and the exchange of information among members of The            Wildlife  Society interested in invasive species management.
2.      Enhance knowledge and technical capabilities of wildlife professionals in the area of invasive species management.
3.      Increase public awareness and understanding of invasive species management issues and decision-making processes.

Terminology:

 (working definitions)

Invasive--those species which occur in high enough numbers to cause economic or environmental harm. 

Noxious—those species designated by a state or other political entity as being so detrimental to environmental or economic interests that landowners must take action to control them

Native—evolved naturally in a particular area. That area may be as small as a watershed or as large as a continent.

Exotic—a species that spread from its native range to an area where it did not naturally occur. Frequently human actions were responsible for the spread to new areas.

Feral--a domesticated species which escaped captivity and reverted back to its wild condition.