Midwest Natural Resources Group

Invasive Species MOA

MNRG approves a Collaborative Agreement to Meeting the Threat of Invasive Species

In May, 2003, eight MNRG managers signed an Invasive Species Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that works toward achieving the overarching goal of the MNRG which is ...

"to develop processes, marshal resources among agencies and partners, seek opportunities for collaboration and
communication, and provide timely assistance where it is needed"

The MOA provides for collaborative efforts to prevent, detect early, rapidly respond to, and control non-native invasive plants, animals and aquatic species while providing the public with the information, understanding, and opportunities they will need to join MNRG in these
efforts.

The agencies have been working together toward prevention and control of non-native invasive species by prudent application of our current laws and regulations while maintaining the missions of our current agencies.
These authorities, along with our readiness to work collaboratively with our non-Federal partners in the Midwest and the diversity of expertise among our agencies and our partners, have provided a strong basis for
success in our efforts toward the prevention and control of invasive species. A work group produced a June 2004 Strategic Plan that developed agency actions related to:

  1. Information Sharing and Technology
    Transfer of methods to control and eradicate non-native invasive species,
  2. Partnership Building among the Midwest Federal Agencies and
  3. Implementing on-the-ground projects on federal properties in order to address the impacts of invasive species on federal lands and to model how collaborations can work to address this problem.

The first project was the joint collaboration of the USFS at the Huron-Manistee National Forest (MI) and the NPS at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (MI) in the removal of garlic mustard from forested areas. See the description of this project in another portion of this web site.

Contact

John Perrecone, USEPA, 312-353-1149, perrecone.john@epa.gov

Invasive Species MOA (signed) May 2003 (PDF, 8pp, 252K)

Action Plan for Addressing Terrestrial Invasive Species Within the Great Lakes Basin (PDF) (70pp, 3.1MB), June 2006