Foreign plants, animals conquering native species

[Staff]

Foreign plants, animals conquering native species
By James Bruggers
September 27, 2010

Foreign plants, animals conquering native species | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
excerpts from above:

Across the country, government officials, representatives of industry and environmental advocates are recognizing a problem that many say is getting worse. Some states have begun to take on the challenge with new laws, policies and councils aimed at getting competing interests to talk to each other.

Across the U.S., economic and environmental damage and the cost of fighting out-of-control plants, animals and bugs total as much as $120 billion annually, a study by researchers at Cornell University found in 2005. The study included everything from crop weeds to feral pigs to forest pests to pigeons, cats and rats.

“Before you put a plant on a blacklist,” he said, “you have to see what the economic impact would be — how many people are growing it, how much is in production, and what would be the (cost) of (ending) that production...

[seedlover7]

It's interesting how discarding a particular seed or species can impact our economy

[Equilibrium]

I think APHIS is doing a really good job stepping up their inspection services and that's gonna be a big help for the long haul.