DEC Announces $3 Million in Grants Available For Invasive Species Projects
Grant Applications Now Being Accepted Through Nov. 1, 2023
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that $3 million is available in the third round of the State’s Invasive Species Grant Program (ISGP). This grant program, supported by the State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), is designed to advance projects that target both aquatic and terrestrial invasive species across the state, with six funding categories that address invasive species spread prevention; early detection and rapid response; research; management planning; and education and outreach. DEC is accepting applications for these grants through Nov. 1, 2023. Municipalities, academic institutions, and not-for-profits may submit applications for funding for eligible projects.
For the full details, please visit the DEC Invasive Species Grant Program Request for Applications Web Page by clicking here.
Join us for the 2023 NYS Invasive Species Expo
September 24-26 at Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs.
A unique conference focusing on invasive species and will combine classic presentations and creative use of outdoor space to appeal to a wide range of attendees. The Expo will be an immersive, hands-on experience featuring: Unique presentations, Interactive demonstrations, Hands-on workshops, Small-group discussions, and Field trips along with outdoor activities. The Expo will be hosted within the unique, historic architecture of beautiful Saratoga Spa State Park and will be open to the public with no cost for general attendance. Sessions will be centered around the overall theme: Reflect, Adapt, Evolve. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on what’s been accomplished so far in the field of invasive species management, learn about the innovative ways we can adapt in unprecedented times, and discuss how we can evolve to confront challenges moving into the future.
Sunday 9/24: Community Conservation Day at the Farmers’ Market (10am-4pm) Join us next to the Spa City Farmers’ Market to learn how you can make a positive impact in protecting our region’s biodiversity. An immersive, hands-on experience featuring presentations, demonstrations, and workshops designed to be fun for the whole family!
Monday 9/25: Invasive Species Expo at the Roosevelt Campus (9am-5pm) A full day of content for invasive species professionals with traditional presentations in the Spa Little Theatre, along with engaging workshops, field demos, a food truck lunch, and professional poster session.
Tuesday 9/26: Invasive Species Expo at the Roosevelt Campus (9am-12pm)
Close out these fun few days with a half-day of professional presentations, workshops, demos, and outdoor activities. See you in 2025!
Registration is Now Open The Expo is being organized through the Conference App Whova. Attendees will be asked to create a profile to sign up for workshops, field trips and other events. To register please click here.
Grant Applications Now Being Accepted Through Nov. 1, 2023
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that $3 million is available in the third round of the State’s Invasive Species Grant Program (ISGP). This grant program, supported by the State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), is designed to advance projects that target both aquatic and terrestrial invasive species across the state, with six funding categories that address invasive species spread prevention; early detection and rapid response; research; management planning; and education and outreach. DEC is accepting applications for these grants through Nov. 1, 2023. Municipalities, academic institutions, and not-for-profits may submit applications for funding for eligible projects.
For the full details, please visit the DEC Invasive Species Grant Program Request for Applications Web Page by clicking here.
Join us for the 2023 NYS Invasive Species Expo
September 24-26 at Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs.
A unique conference focusing on invasive species and will combine classic presentations and creative use of outdoor space to appeal to a wide range of attendees. The Expo will be an immersive, hands-on experience featuring: Unique presentations, Interactive demonstrations, Hands-on workshops, Small-group discussions, and Field trips along with outdoor activities. The Expo will be hosted within the unique, historic architecture of beautiful Saratoga Spa State Park and will be open to the public with no cost for general attendance. Sessions will be centered around the overall theme: Reflect, Adapt, Evolve. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on what’s been accomplished so far in the field of invasive species management, learn about the innovative ways we can adapt in unprecedented times, and discuss how we can evolve to confront challenges moving into the future.
Sunday 9/24: Community Conservation Day at the Farmers’ Market (10am-4pm) Join us next to the Spa City Farmers’ Market to learn how you can make a positive impact in protecting our region’s biodiversity. An immersive, hands-on experience featuring presentations, demonstrations, and workshops designed to be fun for the whole family!
Monday 9/25: Invasive Species Expo at the Roosevelt Campus (9am-5pm) A full day of content for invasive species professionals with traditional presentations in the Spa Little Theatre, along with engaging workshops, field demos, a food truck lunch, and professional poster session.
Tuesday 9/26: Invasive Species Expo at the Roosevelt Campus (9am-12pm)
Close out these fun few days with a half-day of professional presentations, workshops, demos, and outdoor activities. See you in 2025!
Registration is Now Open The Expo is being organized through the Conference App Whova. Attendees will be asked to create a profile to sign up for workshops, field trips and other events. To register please click here.
Role of the PRISM
The Capital Region Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM), is hosted by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County. The PRISM is financially supported through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation via the Environmental Protection Fund. We are a not for profit quasi-government agency that is built on partnerships made up of representatives from state and local agencies, not for profit organizations, and community scientists. The Capital Region PRISM provides services in eleven counties in the New York State Capital Region: Albany, Columbia, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Washington, and parts of Fulton, Greene, Herkimer, and Warren.
Our functions include, but are not limited to:
Coordination of partner efforts
Recruiting and training citizen volunteers
Delivering education and outreach programming
Establishing early detection and monitoring networks
Implementation of response, control, and restoration efforts
Provide funding for invasive species work
If you are interested in partnering with our organization, please contact us.
Our functions include, but are not limited to:
Coordination of partner efforts
Recruiting and training citizen volunteers
Delivering education and outreach programming
Establishing early detection and monitoring networks
Implementation of response, control, and restoration efforts
Provide funding for invasive species work
If you are interested in partnering with our organization, please contact us.
What are Invasive Species?
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Current Species Highlights
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Spongy Moth (Formerly known as gypsy moth) The spongy moth is a defoliating insect native to France and originally introduced in the US in 1869. Generally preferring to feed on the leaves of oak trees, they also feed on apples, maples, hickories, birches, pines and much more. Caterpillars eat young, tender leaves in the spring, and in outbreak years can lead to mass defoliation. Typically however, the leaves will regrow (albeit somewhat smaller) by midsummer allowing the tree to continue photosynthesizing as normal. For a fact sheet from the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences NYS Integrated Pest Management Program, with information about identification, control, when you should worry and more, click here (leaves website). For the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation fact sheet with information on phenology, control options, helping trees recover from outbreak and more, visit the DEC fact page here (leaves website). For the leaflet from the USDA Forest Service with detailed information on life history, natural enemies, control and bio-controls and more, click here. |
Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) Beech Leaf Disease is a relatively new pathogen of beech and kills both native and ornamental species throughout the landscape. BLD was first reported in Ohio in 2012, and has since spread into nine more U.S. States and one Canadian province. There are still many unknowns associated with this disease (including the exact mechanisms of spread), but there is an association with a foliar nematode known as Litylenchus crenatae mccannii. BLD is especially threatening in New York as beech/birch/maple is the predominant forest type of NY, and beech is one of the most common tree species in the entire state. BLD causes damage to a tree’s leaves, leading to reduced vigor and eventually leading to tree mortality. BLD can kill beech of all ages and size classes, and unlike beech bark disease (BBD), kills both native and ornamental beech species. Mortality typically occurs in 2-3 years in younger trees and can take 6-10 years in older and larger trees. You can easily survey for BLD by walking along a trail with beech trees and looking up into the canopy as you go. The symptoms of BLD (as seen in the gallery) can be visible from May until the leaves fall off (which is very late in beech) and are most easily noticed by looking up into the canopy. If you think you have seen signs of BLD:
If you have questions about your trees, email photos and location information to foresthealth@dec.ny.gov. Or you may the Forest Health Diagnostic Lab via phone at 1-866-640-0652 For more detailed information from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, including known locations, current control efforts, and look-alikes, click here (leaves website) |
Become an Environmental Steward.
Check out these national campaigns to learn more about how
you can stop the spread of invasive species!
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To learn more about the invasive species of New York, click on the guides below.
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Cornell Cooperative Extension Saratoga County
50 West High St. Ballston Spa, NY 12020 |
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provides financial support to the Capital Region PRISM via the Environmental Protection Fund.
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Hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County. Website ©2019 Capital Region PRISM
