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Humans have both intentionally and accidentally introduced many non-native plants and animals to Western rangelands. Some of them have produced benefits for humans while remaining under management control. Others have escaped and “gone wild” with unintended negative consequences. While we can debate the degree to which any particular exotic plant or organism has a right to exist on Western rangelands, one thing is for certain. Some of these plants and animals are spreading like wildfires and have become serious threats to the environment, human health, and economic well being.
Urgent cooperative action is needed on the part of federal, state, and local land managers to stem the tide of the invasion and protect the nation’s natural heritage from what many have termed to be biological pollution. Such action remains hampered by a lack of public awareness regarding the threat and by disagreement amongst various stakeholders as to the appropriate methods to be used in the control of noxious, invasive species. Here we provide links that define invasive species, describe the laws and regulations in place at multiple levels to address the invasive species problem, provide information about the biology and ecology of invasive species found on Western rangelands, and discuss the issues surrounding various methods of prevention and control.
Hot Topics: Invasive Species
Laws and Regulations
