Invasive Exotics Tools

A user-oriented approach to invasive species data aggregation, mapping and decision-making for all taxa

Meg Wilkinson, Gary Knight

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 3:30-4:00

On a nation-wide basis habitat loss is the number one threat to biodiversity. The number two threat invasive species, and on land that is already protected from development, invasive species is the number one threat. A crucial part of invasives species management is having good location information. The New York Natural Heritage Program, the Florida Natural Areas Inventory, The Nature Conservancy and NatureServe are working together to develop an on-line, GIS-based mapping tool to assist on-the-ground land managers and others working on all taxa of invasive species. This national prototype will allow users to view and search data and will allow trained individuals to enter data on-line using a password-protected system. It will also provide users different ways to support their early detection and rapid response work including the ability to sign up for email alerts. This presentation will include information about how to join this membership-based and member-driven organization (http://imapinvasives.org/). Anyone interested in collecting, viewing and utilizing invasive species data is encouraged to attend this session.

Keywords: INVASIVE SPECIES, IMAP, INVASIVES, EARLY DETECTION