The Catskill Chronicle

LIBERTY, NY (July 9, 2014) – Invasive species affect all New Yorkers – from hikers to highway personnel, from birders to boaters, and from farmers to foresters. The mission of the New York Invasive Species Awareness Week (July 6 – 12, 2014) is to promote knowledge and understanding of invasive species to help stop their spread by engaging citizens in a wide range of activities across the state and encouraging them to take action. Information and free identification services for potential early detection species is available through Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Sullivan County at 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road in Liberty. Community members are urged to contact the CCE Master Gardener (MG) Volunteers if they suspect to have found an invasive species on their property or anywhere in the region.

“Certain species should not be handled so it’s always important to contact our office first when you think you’ve found an invasive species,” said Susan Dollard, MG Coordinator.

The CCE Sullivan County MG Volunteers will be available at a table with educational information on Saturday, July 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Rock Hill Farmers’ Market located at 223 Rock Hill Drive in Rock Hill, NY. More information about invasive species or horticulture in general can be obtained by calling the MG helpline at 845-292-6180 Mondays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays from 9 am to noon, or emailing scmghelpline@cornell.edu.

Invasive species consist of plants and animals, including insects and pathogens. They have negative impacts on forests, agriculture, wildlife, fish, shellfish, and human health. They also diminish recreational areas. Even though only a small percentage of species introduced to an area become invasive, the damage they cause is significant. The need for a national early detection and rapid response (ED/RR) system has been recognized in order to deal with this increasing threat.

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Sullivan County is working with the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) to develop an ED/RR system in the Catskill region. The public in the Catskill region is urged to join in this important task. The more eyes there are looking for these invaders, the easier it will be to deal with them quickly and effectively.

A calendar of events on invasive species education can be found at: http://www.nyis.info/blog/events/.