Invasive species — those that are exotic and don't naturally occur in an area — cause economic or environmental harm, and could negatively affect human health.
And they're the No. 1 threat to biodiversity on protected lands.
Invasive species don't know boundaries; as a result, public, private lands, natural and man-made water bodies, and associated watersheds are affected.
National Invasive Species Awareness Week — Feb. 21-27 — raises awareness of this problem.
Florida agriculture annually loses an estimated $179 million from invasive pests, according to http://www.defenders.org/sites/default/files/publications/florida.pdf.
Generally, eradicating an invasive species is difficult and expensive, so most mitigation efforts focus on control.
Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System, a web-based way to report invasive species, shows 667 invasive plants reported in Florida.
Many invasive insects, animals and diseases have also landed in Florida. Some famous invasive species include cogongrass, wild hogs, red imported fire ants, Chinese tallow and lionfish.
For National Invasive Species Awareness Week, the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Northwest Extension District will highlight two invasive species each day.
Here's how to get the information:
●Go to http://subscribe.ifas.ufl.edu and sign up for the Panhandle Outdoors Newsletter
●Go to https://www.facebook.com/IFASNW/ and “Like” us on Facebook.
●Always be cautious when bringing plants or plant materials into Florida.Plants or even dead plant material can harbor weeds, insects and diseases that can become invasive in our state.
●When you see something suspicious, contact your local extension agent for help identifying the weed, insect or disease.
●Volunteer. The state has several Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas in which public and private organizations work together to control invasive species. These areas hold work days in which volunteers can help remove invasive species from the environment.
HOW TO HELP CONTROL INVASIVE SPECIES
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BEARDEN: Help control invasive species in Crestview