Combat Invasive Species

Every day, new exotic species arrive in the United States. Some are intentionally imported for use as pets, food, or nursery crops, while others hitchhike aboard ships or planes. Still others arrive unnoticed as pests or pathogens. Many of these non-native organisms die out, but others become established, and some may harm the environment, economy, and human health. These impacts are serious: for example, invasive species cause up to $137 billion in damages each year in the United States alone, and they are considered among the top three threats to endangered species worldwide. Invasive species invade every type of ecosystem, present challenges at every level of governance, and affect virtually every sector of society.

Immediate action is needed to prevent the continuing introduction of potential invaders into the United States, to quickly detect and respond to invaders when they do arrive, and to minimize the spread of invaders that are already established.

The Environmental Law Institute's Invasive Species Program promotes the development and implementation of laws, regulations, and policies that prevent introduction of and minimize the harm caused by invasive species.

The program focuses its efforts in three areas:

LINKING CLIMATE CHANGE AND INVASIVE SPECIES POLICIES

Whether through habitat fragmentation, shifting temperature regimes, opening up new invasion pathways, or other mechanisms, climate change will deeply affect invasive species management. ELI studies the interactions between climate change and invasive species management and works to increase consideration of climate in aquatic invasive species management and to guide development of policies for movement of species internationally. Learn more.

STRENGTHENING STATE AND FEDERAL INVASIVE SPECIES POLICY

ELI is the foremost authority on state laws and regulations related to invasive species. Our 2002 report, Halting the Invasion, remains the seminal resource on how states can approach invasive species policy. Other important contributions include evaluations of regulatory gaps in specific state and federal laws for forest species, weeds, aquatic invasive species, and animals. Learn more.

ENCOURAGING COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT OF INVASIVE SPECIES

ELI supports and encourages interstate and interagency cooperation and coordination on invasive species issues. We partner with interagency invasive species groups, such as regional panels of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, to assist these groups in their efforts to promote harmonization of legal approaches across state and agency lines and to proactively identify and address emerging invasive species pathways and threats. Learn more.

New from the invasive species program:

A new ELI report (appendix) reviews development of state invasive species laws and regulations. Learn more