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DEC Announces New York's Thirteenth Annual Invasive
Species Awareness Week Begins June 8
Published: June 07, 2026 at
12:00 p.m.
By: Press Release
from NYS DEC
DEC Announces New York's Thirteenth Annual Invasive
Species Awareness Week Begins June 8
Free Public Events Scheduled Across New York State to
Engage and Educate the Public About Invasive Species Issues
The New York
State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Agriculture and
Markets (AGM) has announced that the State's 13th
annual Invasive Species Awareness Week (ISAW) will run from Monday, June 8,
through Sunday, June 14. Free public events, including webinars, hands-on
workshops, and guided hikes and paddles will be offered online and across
the state to encourage New Yorkers to learn more and participate in the
fight against the negative impacts of invasive species.
DEC Commissioner
Amanda Lefton said, “Invasive Species Awareness Week is an
opportunity to engage and mobilize the public to protect local ecosystems,
agricultural, and public health from the threats of invasive species. These
harmful invaders outcompete native wildlife, damage recreational spaces,
and cause economic harm. Through collaboration among State and local
governments, environmental organizations, researchers, industry partners,
and the public, we can strengthen our efforts to detect, manage, and
prevent invasive species. Whether you’re hiking, boating, gardening, or
simply enjoying the outdoors, everyone has a role to play in safeguarding
our environment for future generations.”
AGM Commissioner
Richard A. Ball said, “Combatting the spread of harmful invasive
species like the box tree moth, Asian longhorned
beetle, and spotted lanternfly is critical to protecting our agricultural
industry. We’re fortunate to have strong collaborations with our partners at DEC in advancing our shared mission of addressing
these pests and their threat to New York agriculture and our natural
resources. Together, we are working to educate farmers, plant growers and
dealers, and the public about the impact of invasive species and how to preserve
the health of New York’s farms, environment, and economy.”
To participate in
an ISAW event, visit the NY Invasive Species
Awareness Week 2026 page on the NY Invasive Species
Clearinghouse website to find a complete list of offerings.
Registration information and full event details can be found by clicking on
the individual events.
Invasive species
are plants, animals, insects, and pathogens that are not native to an area
and cause harm to the environment, agriculture, economy, or public health.
New York is particularly vulnerable to these pests due to its role as a
center for international trade and travel.
DEC leads a
comprehensive program to research, manage, and combat the effects of
invasive species across New York State. This includes tackling aquatic
invasive species like hydrilla, water chestnut, and northern snakehead and
forest pests such as southern pine beetle, laurel wilt, and hemlock wooly
adelgid. DEC works with numerous partners and oversees eight NYS
Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs), which
educate residents and visitors about how everyone can protect their lands,
water, and forests from invasive species.
AGM works to
control and eradicate various invasive species, such as the spotted
lanternfly, European pepper moth, and European cherry fruit fly, which can
harm New York’s agricultural crops, particularly grapes, hops,
strawberries, peppers, and fruit trees. Staff conduct annual surveys for
these pests, and inspect the state’s nearly 9,000 greenhouses, retail
markets, and nursery growers and dealers for compliance with invasive plant
regulations. Horticultural inspectors also monitor for invasive pests and diseases,
such as Asian longhorned beetle and boxwood
blight that are harmful to New York’s trees and popular landscape
shrubs. Learn more about the invasive species that are a concern
for New York agriculture.
In the recently
enacted 2026-27 State Budget, Governor Hochul reaffirms New York’s
commitment to environmental leadership by appropriating $425 million to the
Environmental Protection Fund, using $25 million from the Sustainable
Future Program to provide a record $450 million for important environmental
programs. EPF funding is a critical resource for environmental programs
such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention
and eradication, recreation access, water quality improvement, and
environmental justice projects. The budget includes a renewed $18.5 million
in funding to manage invasive species.
ISAW educates New
Yorkers to work together to spread the word, not the species. Everyone can
make a difference in the fight against invasives by helping to locate and map
infestations, using only local firewood, properly cleaning watercraft before and after
boating, cleaning dirt off boots after hiking, or removing invasive species from the yard. To
learn more about invasive species and how to get involved,
visit DEC's website.
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