Invasive species cause an estimated $120 billion in damages across the United States each year. These consequences affect wildlife, farms, human health, recreation and native fisheries. To help counter these effects, the federal government recently reestablished the Invasive Species Advisory Committee. Members of this committee—who represent research institutions, scientific societies, trade organizations, landowners and other public interest groups—will provide expertise and support to the National Invasive Species Council. Chuck Bargeron, director and public service associate at the University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, is among 13 new members of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee. The opportunity will help in addressing invasive species in the Southeast, said Bargeron, and members’ expertise will help the National Invasive Species Council work more efficiently. The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, located on UGA’s Tifton campus, is a partnership between the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “This committee allows me to raise awareness issues of new invasive species that we are dealing with in Georgia, as well as issues that my partners in other states are dealing with, to federal agencies,” said Bargeron. “I’m also looking forward to learning from my peers on the committee and with federal agencies and bring this knowledge back to my networks.” Bargeron served on the committee from 2013-2019, but the advisory committee was inactive during the final years of his term as the result of administrative changes in the National Invasive Species Council. Last year, the council reinstituted the advisory committee, with the goal of providing information and advice to the council. The National Invasive Species Council is co-chaired by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Appointments to the advisory committee come from the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Slide/Banner Caption: Chuck Bargeron demonstrates an app used to identify invasive species with Rachel Carroll.
