History
New York Invasive Species (NYIS.info) was founded in 2008, with funds from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund and through a contract with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. NYIS.info was established in response to Recommendation 5 of the November 2005 report of the New York State Invasive Species Task Force to the Governor and Legislature. The Task Force recommended that the State should integrate invasive species databases and information clearinghouses. This resulted in the creation of the invasive species database and mapping project iMapInvasives and the information clearinghouse project, NYIS.info. In 2019, the clearinghouse underwent a redesign to update appearance, navigation, function and mobile device friendliness.
2016 – 2019 Project Advisory Committee Membership:
- Emma Antolos, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Samuel Beck-Andersen, Finger Lakes Institute
- Audrey Bowe, New York Invasive Species Research Institute
- Matthew Brincka, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
- Carrie Brown-Lima, New York Invasive Species Research Institute
- Nordica Holochuck, New York Sea Grant
- Andrea Locke, Western New York Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management
- John Marino, New York Natural Heritage Program, iMapInvasives
- Cathy McGlynn, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Falon Neske, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
- Elizabeth Robbe, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper
- Emily Thiel, Western New York Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management
- Rob Williams, St. Lawrence-Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management
- Lindsay Yoder, Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management
Funding for the 2019 redesign was made possible in part by US Fish & Wildlife Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds to New York State and Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance and New York State. The opinions or views on this website do not necessarily represent those of NYSG, Advisory Committee affiliations, or the funding agencies.
Mission
NYIS.info is a gateway for New Yorkers to access timely, accurate scientific and policy related information so they can make informed decisions about preventing, eradicating, controlling and managing invasive species in New York State. NYIS.info has subsumed the National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse and its Aquatic Invasive Species Database and has formed linkages with the New York Invasive Species Database (iMapInvasives), the New York Invasive Species Research Institute at Cornell, and numerous State and Federal agency invasive species programs. NYIS.info works closely with the State’s eight Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs) to support them in their invasive species activities.
New York Sea Grant (NYSG), manages NYIS.info, the PRISM e-lists and, with partners, led the standardization in watercraft inspection for New York State. In addition, historically, NYSG:
- is a statutory member of the NY Invasive Species Advisory Committee, as established by Article 9, Section 17 of the Environmental Conservation Law;
- has extension educators providing Aquatic Invasive Species outreach education programs with diverse audiences including teachers and youth, anglers, recreational boaters, and the general public; and
- is a PRISM partner.