1. National EDRR Coordinator
No New Weeds! Update on the National Early Detection and Rapid Response System for Invasive Plants
Randy G. Westbrooks
National EDRR Coordinator
U.S. Geological Survey
FICMNEW

2. Invasive Species, why bother?
Agriculture…...
Biodiversity……
$138 Billion per Year
#2 Threat to Biodiversity

3. Invasive Species The Public Policy / Regulation Science
- Congress
- States
- Counties
Science
- Modeling
- Systematics
- Control Tech.
Invasive Species
Programs
Plant/ Animal
Industries
The Public

4. Invasive Species People: The Problem – The Solution
Get Organized!
Weeds Won’t Wait!
Kudzu!!
The Family Farm
Public Works

5. The Great American Exchange North American Mammals
Panama Land Bridge, 3 Million Yr. BP
North American Mammals
South American Marsupials

6. Strategies for Addressing Biological Pollution
Detection
Containment
Eradication
Prevention
Exclusion
Preclearance
Control
Other Countries
USA
Strategies for Addressing Biological Pollution

7. USDA & DHS. First Line of Defense…..
Airports
Seaports
Land Border Crossings.....
Beagle Brigade

8. Serrated Tussock in Australia (Nassella trichotoma)

9. Federal/State Cooperative Weed Eradication Projects. 1958-2003.
Successful Projects
Witchweed (Striga asiatica). NC, SC Current
Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), CA
Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum). FL, GA, SC, NC, TN, AL, MS, PA
Japanese Dodder (Cuscuta japonica). SC
Small Broomrape (Orobanche minor). VA, NC, SC, GA, OR
Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum). PA
Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta). SC, NC. 1995, 2003.
Unsuccessful Projects
Common Crupina (Crupina vulgaris), ID, WA, OR
Goatsrue (Galega officinalis), UT
Catclaw Mimosa (Mimosa pigra). FL
Wild Sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum). FL
Wetland Nightshade (Solanum tampicense). FL

11. Common Crupina (Crupina vulgaris) in the Great Northwest
1968: Observed Near Grangeville, ID
1969: Identified
1970: Surveyed (40 Acres)
1981: Listed as Federal Noxious Weed (23,000 Acres)
: Studied (U. Idaho)
1991: Proposed for Eradication (63,000 Acres)
1991: Project Abandoned
2003: No Bio-Control Agent in Sight (Acres Unknown)

12. 1992 – APHIS National Herbarium Survey

13. Small Broomrape (Orobanche minor Small)

14. Strategies for Addressing Invasive Species
Traditional Strategies
Production of Pest Free
Commodities
Preclearance
Exclusion at Ports of Entry
Early Detection
Containment
Eradication
Control
New Strategies
Coordinated Framework for Interagency Partnering
National EDRR System for Invasive Plants
New Biological Protection Ethic

15. FICMNEW – 1998 Planning Retreat

16. State Invasive Species Partnerships
A Call to Action…..

17. State Invasive Species Partnerships
Major Goals and Objectives
Invasive Species Executive Order
Management Plan
State Coordinator
Interagency MOU
Identify Research Needs
Outreach and Awareness
Early Detection, ID
Rapid Assessment
Rapid Response
Wyoming Weed Team
- Founded

18. EDRR in USDA

19. EDRR Conceptual Design – Phase 1
EDRR National Workshop
USGS Research Center, Ft. Collins, CO.
Sponsored by USDA & USGS
Broad Stakeholder Participation
Five Working Groups
Early Detection
Rapid Assessment
Rapid Response
Outreach and Education
Operational Framework
Workshop Proceedings (2001)
June, 2000

21. National Early Detection and Rapid Response System for Invasive Plants
Functional Elements
Early Detection
(Volunteer Network; Active Surveys)
Identification, Vouchering
(Designated Botanists)
New Record Verification and Archiving
(FICMNEW, State Weed Teams; Online Databases)
Rapid Assessment of Confirmed New Species
(Federal and State Scientists)
Rapid Response
(Land Owners or Cooperative Weed Management Areas)

23. EDRR Phase II Development and Field Testing
National Projects - USGS and FICMNEW
National EDRR Home Page
Weed Alerts, Reporting System, State Partner Contacts
New Detection, Monitoring and Forecasting Methods
Computer ID Tools, Species Profiles, Online Databases (PLANTS, INVADERS, etc.)
Global E-Commerce Monitoring System (AUS & APHIS)
EDRR Training Curriculum; Training for Volunteer Groups
National Overview Video, State Overview Including Target Species, Plant Collection Techniques
Verification of National Records
Rapid Assessment Guidelines (APHIS, AQIS, TNC)
Rapid Assessments of New Species
Roundleaf Toothcup (AL), Beach Vitex (SC), Tansy Ragwort (MA)
Technical Support for Rapid Response
Coordination of State and Regional EDRR Pilot Projects

24. EDRR Phase II Development and Field Testing
State and Regional Pilot Projects
Regional Partners: New England (IPANE); Mid-South (Mississippi State University)
State and Local Partners: MD, WV, NC, PA, SC, NE, WY, CO, ID
Interested: NY, PA, KS, IN, NM, ND, SD, NV, AZ, CA, HI
State and Regional Invasive Species Councils (~30 Agencies/Organizations)
State and Regional Watch Lists
Recruited Volunteer Detection Networks
Natural Heritage Botanists
Friends Groups; Scouts, Master Gardeners, etc.
EDRR Training and Certification
Designated Botanists for ID and Vouchering
Designated Weed Scientists for Technical Support
Rapid Assessments
Surveys - Survey Data to USGS for Ecological Forecasting

25. New Invader in Alabama and Florida: Rotala rotundifolia (Roundleaf Toothcup)

26. Beach Vitex in Coastal South Carolina (Vitex rotundifolia)

27. Application OF EDRR ‘From the Back Yard to the Back Woods’
Traditional - Political Subdivisions
Countries, States, Counties, Cities, Towns
Geographic Subdivisions
Water Sheds, Eco-Regions
Individual Land Units
Private Lands
Back Yard, Farms, Nature Preserves
Public Lands
Parks, Refuges, Forests
USA
State
County

28. Why EDRR?
EDRR does not restrict trade and movement of species that may or may not become invasive.
EDRR addresses only species that have established free living, self perpetuating populations.
EDRR causes minimal and short impacts on the invaded habitat.
EDRR aims to restore the invaded habitat to a natural balance.
New Knowledge about Natural Resources.

29. Nuttall’s Thistle - New Native Plant Record in NC -

30. New Biological Protection Ethic
Environmental Protection Ethic - 20th Century
Chemical Pollution and Hazardous Waste
Silent Spring; EPA
Anti-Littering Campaigns
Woodsy Owl - Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute
Recycling (1980s)
Biological Protection Ethic - 21st Century
Biological Pollution
New Paradigm on Exotic Species

31. National EDRR System for Invasive Plants
Invasive Species
Policy / Regulation
- Congress
- States
- Counties
Science
- Modeling
- Systematics
- Control Tech.
National EDRR System for Invasive Plants
Programs
Plant/ Animal
Industries
The Public

32. American Institute of Biological Sciences
Special Thanks…..
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Weeds Won’t Wait!!