Invasive Species Defined in a Policy Context: Recommendations from the Federal Invasive Species Advisory Committee

Abstract

Preamble:   Executive Order (EO) 13112 —defines an invasive species as “ an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. ” In the Executive Summary of the National Invasive Species Management Plan (NISMP) the term invasive species is further clarified and defined as “ a species that is non-native to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. ” To provide guidance for the development and implementation of the NISMP, the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) and the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC) adopted a set of principles outlined in Appendix 6 of the NISMP. Guiding Principle #1 provides additional context for defining the term invasive species and states “ many alien species are non-invasive and support human livelihoods or a preferred quality of life. ”