New York State’s ninth annual Invasive Species Awareness Week (NYISAW) will be celebrated June 6-12. NYISAW is an educational campaign featuring statewide events that encourage New Yorkers to learn about invasive species and help protect the state’s resources from the negative impacts of invasive species.

The Finger Lakes PRISM is hosting many interactive events throughout the Finger Lakes. Events include:

• ‘Uninvited’ Documentary Screening, Geneva, NY; Monday, June 6th @ 7pm
Kick off NYISAW with a screening of “Uninvited” the newest invasive species documentary! Staff of the Finger Lakes PRISM will be available for a Q&A afterwards of all things invasive species.
• Mystery Snail Removal on Melody Lake, Willet, NY; Tuesday June 7th @ 1pm
Join the Melody Lake Association, the NYSDEC Region 7 Sustainability Committee, Cortland County Soil and Water and several of our association members to attempt to manually remove as many of these snails as possible!
• Bioblitz at Cumming Nature Center, Naples, NY; Saturday, June 11th @ 8am
During this family-friendly community science event, you will work with scientists, educators, and naturalists to document the biodiversity at Cumming Nature Center. Spend the day identifying, collecting, and recording as many species of plants and animals as possible throughout our 900-acre preserve. Along the way, you will learn fascinating facts, develop your naturalist skills, and grow in appreciation for the diverse species that create the unique and vibrant ecosystem that we call home!

The full schedule of Finger Lakes PRISM events is online at http://fingerlakesinvasives.org/calendar/. To view events happening across the state, visit https://nyis.info/nyisaw/.

Invasive species are non-native plants, animals, or diseases that can cause harm to the environment, the economy, or human health. They cause or contribute to degradation and loss of habitat, wildlife, and plant species, as well as loss of recreational opportunities and associated income, damage to crops and nursery stock, health issues in humans and livestock and risks to public safety. Invaders can be introduced intentionally (like when non-native plants are sold at nurseries and escape from gardens) or unintentionally (like when insects hitch rides in wooden crates). Since New York State is a hub for international trade and travel, our state has one of the highest rates of non-native introductions and invasive species are a constant threat to our resources.
Combatting invasive species may seem like a daunting task, but it’s easy for New Yorkers to make small changes to their daily routine. Hikers can remove seeds from clothing, boots and equipment before and after heading out on a trail. Gardeners can take care to use native plants when gardening and landscaping and inspect the contents of seed packets for invasive plants. Boaters can clean plant material and mud from their watercraft and gear before and after leaving a boat launch. Campers can buy local firewood to prevent the spread of forest pests and diseases. The public can also utilize iMapInvasives, New York’s invasive species database, to help report invasive species populations.

New York Invasive Species Awareness Week is coordinated by the New York Invasive Species Advisory Committee, New York Invasive Species Council and Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management. Finger Lakes PRISM is one of eight Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) in the state. For further information about the Finger Lakes PRISM, visit http://fingerlakesinvasives.org