The chapters of NAIPC consist of state and regional (multi-state) Exotic Pest Plant Councils (EPPCs) and Invasive Plant Councils (IPCs). These non-profit, volunteer-based groups bring together professional natural resource managers, scientists and others to collaboratively work on preventing, eradicating, and managing invasive plants within their state or states.
To facilitate communication between EPPCs, especially regarding issues and policies of national importance on exotic pest plants that threaten natural areas and wildlands;
To communicate and represent the interests of EPPCs on issues and policies of national importance regarding invasive exotic pest plants that threaten natural areas and wildlands;
To support the formation and growth of EPPCs, and to provide a forum for all EPPCs to share in and benefit from the information generated by each EPPC and this association;
To provide support for the implementation of national invasive species initiatives and other activities of national importance.
The National Association of Invasive Plant Councils (NAIPC) was established in October 1995 by the signature of representatives of the first four state and regional Exotic Pest Plant Councils (see Founding MOU). NAIPC was established because the Exotic Pest Plant Councils recognized the value of cooperation through a national association of like organizations that share common goals. The preamble of the Original MOU stated that there is power in organization, strength in numbers, and that some problems are national in scope and are most appropriately addressed by a national organization.
Since the inception of the first EPPCs and the NAIPC, a heightened awareness of invasive species has resulted in many positive changes throughout the United States. One result of this heightened awareness has been the formation of many new state and regional non-profit organizations whose purpose is to focus on issues of invasive (exotic pest) plants in natural areas and other wildlands. These newly formed organizations have been established as Exotic Pest Plant Councils, Invasive Plant Councils, and organizations with names other than these but whose missions are very similar.
The National Association of Invasive Plant Councils (NAIPC), is open to the participation to all non-profit organizations whose primary mission addresses issues of invasive exotic pest plants in natural areas and wildlands as do the Exotic Pest Plant Councils that originally formed NAIPC. It is understood that a purpose of participating in NAIPC is to come together as a national coalition of organizations that speak as one voice on this issue. It is understood that the primary focus of each state and regional organization is limited to its geographic base. It is understood that members of NAIPC share common interests and concerns that extend beyond their state or regional boundaries. Whereby, it is through this coalition, established as the National Association of Invasive Plant Councils (NAIPC), that we speak as one voice on issues of invasive (exotic pest) plants in natural areas and wildlands at the national and continental level.