Why Texas Invasives?

A host of plants and animals from exotic places with exotic names (Emerald ash borer, Formosan termite, Asian long-horned beetle, Japanese climbing fern, and Asian dodder) threaten the health of Texas’ native ecosystems, yet few people know that these pests and pathogens are already present or standing at our door step.

Why do we care?
Invasive species are a form of biological pollution. Invasive species decrease biodiversity by threatening the survival of native plants and animals. They interfere with ecosystem function by changing important processes like fire, nutrient flow, and flooding. Invasive species hybridize with native species resulting in negative genetic impacts.

Invasive species spread easily in today's modern global network of commerce and are difficult and costly to control. Invasives impede industries and threaten agriculture and can endanger human health. Invasive species are a significant threat to almost half of the native US species currently listed as federally endangered.

The costs to prevent, monitor and control invasive species are enormous not to mention the costs to crop damage, fisheries, forests, and other resources. Invasives cost the US $137 billion annually. Some of the most invasive and harmful species cost in excess of $100 million each annually.