NY Invasive Species Clearinghouse | CCE Invasive Species Program | Staff

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New York Invasive Species Clearinghouse and Website

The New York Invasive Species Information Website - NYIS.INFO and its host, the New York Invasive Species Clearinghouse, [the two are generally jointly referred to as NYIS.INFO] were founded in October 2008. NYIS.INFO is funded with NYS Environmental Protection Fund resources 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 report 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.

The Mission of the Clearinghouse is to be a gateway for New Yorkers to access accurate, timely, accurate scientific and policy information to assist them in making informed decisions about preventing, eradicating, controlling and managing invasive species in NYS and focus attention on the need for prevention, eradication and management of invasive species in NY. The Clearinghouse also provides information on upcoming invasive species events and invasive species news of interest to New Yorkers. The Clearinghouse has merged with the National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse and has formed linkages with the NY Invasive Species Database & iMapInvasives, the NY Invasive Species Research Institute at Cornell, and numerous State and Federal agency invasive species programs. The Clearinghouse works closely with the State's eight PRISMs (Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management - see navigation bar PRISM tab) to support them in their invasive species activities.

NYIS.INFO is managed by New York Sea Grant, a cooperative program of the State University of New York (SUNY) and Cornell University. The Clearinghouse is advised by a Scientific Advisory Network (see below).

Cornell Cooperative Extension Invasive Species Education Program

The Cornell Cooperative Extension Statewide Invasive Species Education Program (CCE ISP) was created in late-2010. The CCE ISP is funded by the NYS Environmental Protection Fund under contract with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The Program’s Mission is to provide all New York stakeholders affected or potentially affected by (or influencing) invasive species with high quality science-based educational programs and cutting edge research-based information regarding invasive species of major concern to the State of New York. These programs and information will assist stakeholders in preventing and detecting the introduction of new invasive species (or the further spread of existing species), managing or controlling existing populations of invasive species, and/or controlling or eradicating new and existing invasive species populations. This will benefit the State by protecting New York’s agricultural, forest, aquatic and “built” resources, human and animal health, and economy from the negative impacts of invasive species. The CCE ISP works closely with the State's eight PRISMs and 57 CCE County Associations to support them in their invasive species outreach and education activities.

The CCE ISP is managed by Cornell University Cooperative Extension and is advised by the same Scientific Advisory Network that advises NYIS.INFO.

Staff

Chuck O'Neill, a former Senior Extension Associate with the New York Sea Grant Extension program, is the director of NYIS.INFO and the Coordinator of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Statewide Invasive Species Education Program. Chuck was with NY Sea Grant for 30 years, the last 22 of which were spent as Sea Grant's invasive species team leader. Chuck also serves as NY Sea Grant's representative to the NYS Invasive Species Advisory Committee and represented Sea Grant on the original NY Invasive Species Task Force. From 2002 through 2008, Chuck served on the National Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC - which advises the National Invasive Species Council on invasive species issues of national significance), where he chaired the Committee's Communications, Education and Outreach Subcommittee.

Contact Us

To contact the Clearinghouse or the Cornell Cooperative Extension Invasive Species Program, please e-mail Chuck O'Neill at chuck.oneill@cornell.edu

Scientific Advisory Network