New Jersey Strategic Management Plan for Invasive Species The Recommendations of the New Jersey Invasive Species Council to Governor Jon S. Corzine Pursuant to New Jersey Executive Order #97 Vision Statement: “To reduce the impacts of invasive species on New Jersey’s biodiversity, natural resources, agricultural resources and human health through prevention, control and restoration, and to prevent new invasive species from becoming established.” Prepared by Michael Van Clef, Ph.D. Ecological Solutions LLC 9 Warren Lane Great Meadows, New Jersey 07838 908-637-8003 908-528-6674 [email protected] The first draft of this plan was produced by the author, under contract with the New Jersey Invasive Species Council, in February 2007. Two subsequent drafts were prepared by the author based on direction provided by the Council. The final plan was approved by the Council in August 2009 following revisions by staff of the Department of Environmental Protection. Cover Photos: Top row left: Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar); Photo by NJ Department of Agriculture Top row center: Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora); Photo by Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Top row right: Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica); Photo by Troy Evans, Eastern Kentucky University, Bugwood.org Middle row left: Mile-a-Minute (Polygonum perfoliatum); Photo by Jil M. Swearingen, USDI, National Park Service, Bugwood.org Middle row center: Canadian Thistle (Cirsium arvense); Photo by Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Middle row right: Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis); Photo by NJ Department of Agriculture Bottom row left: Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum); Photo by Alison Fox, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Bottom row center: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae); Photo by Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Archive, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Bugwood.org Bottom row right: Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria); Photo by Barry Rice, saracenia.com, Bugwood.org This report may be cited as: New Jersey Invasive Species Council. 2009. New Jersey Strategic Management Plan for Invasive Species. Trenton, NJ. 110 pages. iii MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL Council Co-Chairs • Mark N. Mauriello, Acting Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection o Designee – John S. Watson, Jr., Deputy Commissioner • Douglas H. Fisher, Secretary, New Jersey Department of Agriculture o Designee – Carl P. Schulze Jr., Director, Plant Industry Division Members • Joseph R. Arsenault, Owner, New Jersey Plants • Virginia S. Bauer, Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Commerce, Economic Growth, and Tourism Commission o Designee – Dung T. Nguyen, Office of Economic Research • George Dean, Owner, Dean's Evergreens • Emile DeVito, Ph.D., Manager of Science and Stewardship, New Jersey Conservation Foundation • Stephen Dilts, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Transportation o Designee – David E. Earl, Landscape and Urban Design • Joan Ehrenfeld, Ph.D., Professor, Rutgers, The State University • Troy Ettel, New Jersey Audubon Society • Steven Handel, Ph.D., Director, Center for Urban Restoration Ecology • Robert Housedorf, Owner, Black Oak Farm • Donald Knezick, Owner, Pinelands Nursery and Supply • Carl R. Nordstrom, Executive Director (retired), New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association • Vacant (additional agricultural industry representative) PLAN CONTRIBUTORS Thomas Almendinger, Duke Farms James C. Amon, D&R Greenway Land Trust Michele Bakacs, NJDEP, Division of Watershed Management Bruce Barbour, Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension Kerry Barringer, Ph.D., Brooklyn Botanic Garden Michael Bisignano Craig Bitler, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Mary E. Brandreth, Philadelphia District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Robert J. Cartica, NJDEP, Office of Natural Lands Management Ellen Cronan Danielle Donkersloot, NJDEP, Division of Watershed Management David Donnelly, NJDEP, Washington Crossing State Park Thomas Doty, Millburn Township Hazel England, Great Swamp Watershed Association iv Ronald Farr, North Jersey District Water Supply Commission Paul Fofonoff, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Sophie Glovier, Garden Club of America Larry Herrighty, NJDEP, Division of Fish & Wildlife Robert Jennings, Morris County Park Commission Carole Kandoth, NJDEP, Division of Fish & Wildlife Marjorie Kaplan, NJDEP, Policy, Planning & Science Betsy Lyman, National Park Service Robert Masson, Morristown National Historical Park William Mates, NJDEP, Policy, Planning & Science Marc Matsil, City and Borough of Juneau Jared Rosenbaum, Sourland Planning Council Kathleen Salisbury, Native Plant Society of New Jersey George Smitte, Tuff Greens, LLC David Snyder, NJDEP, Office of Natural Lands Management Benjamin Spinelli Ken Thoman, Monmouth County Park Commission William Thomas, United States Fish & Wildlife Service Michael Van Clef, Ecological Solutions LLC Jon Wagar, Conservation Resources Inc. Jessica Wilkinson, Environmental Law Institute Elena Williams, NJDEP, Office of Natural Lands Management v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report and set of recommendations was produced pursuant to New Jersey Executive Order #97 which created the New Jersey Invasive Species Council with the charge of completing a comprehensive invasive species management plan for the State of New Jersey. New Jersey has abundant biodiversity, natural resources and agricultural resources that are highly worth protecting for our citizens, both present and future. Seventy percent of our state consists of agricultural lands and natural habitats. A snapshot of our wealth includes 850,000 acres of agricultural lands, 2.1 million acres of forest cover, 52 globally rare and federally listed species and over 2,100 species of native plants (including 55 species of orchids, which is more than Hawaii). These natural resources provide ecosystem goods (e.g., agricultural commodities, timber, fish) and services (e.g., flood control, carbon sequestration), the combined value of which is estimated at $20 billion per year. Wildlife-related tourism is estimated to provide an additional $3 billion per year of gross economic activity. However, our natural and agricultural resources are being damaged by non-native, invasive species which are transforming our resources in undesirable ways. These animals, plants and pathogens are pervasive throughout the state, are steadily increasing in abundance and numbers of species, and already are imposing a significant cost to the public and private sectors. Further damage to our State’s economy and ecology is inevitable if New Jersey does not take a proactive role toward managing invasive species. The New Jersey Invasive Species Council (NJISC) has adopted the definition developed by the National Invasive Species Council, which defines an invasive species as “a species that is 1) non- native to the ecosystem under consideration and 2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” An invasive species can be a plant, animal or microbe. Thousands of non-native species have been introduced to our state. Although most non-native species do not become invasive or cause harm, the small percentage that do pose important threats to our environmental, economic and social welfare. The economic impact of invasive species on New Jersey agriculture is estimated at $290 million per year, or 33 percent of New Jersey’s total agricultural cash receipts. One prominent example of the economic impact is New Jersey’s oyster industry, which has been nearly destroyed by two invasive pathogens. Other obvious negative impacts range from the loss of over 21,000 mature trees due to Asian longhorned beetle infestations in Union and Middlesex counties and increased mosquito bites due to the invasive Asian tiger mosquito, to extremely rare but severe events such as human mortality caused by West Nile Virus. In addition, invasive species have created profound impacts including modification of whole forest types and local extinction of rare species. Approximately 1,000 plant species, or about 30 percent of the State’s flora, are non- native. The consensus of field scientists is that invasive plant species probably cover hundreds of thousands of acres in our state. Invasive species are considered the greatest threat to biodiversity after outright habitat destruction. In the United States, 40 percent of federally threatened and endangered species are at risk from invasive species. Confronting this challenge will require newly dedicated resources and strong commitment from all stakeholders. We must work together to PREVENT new invasions and limit the continued vi spread of invasive species that are already present. We must also CONTROL infestations that currently exist and work to RESTORE ecosystems to their natural condition. The NJISC recommends that resources devoted to invasive species programs be commensurate with the threats posed to biodiversity and the damage they cause to our natural resources, agricultural resources and human health. New Jersey’s effort must also be commensurate with that of neighboring states, to promote regionally effective programs and policies. There is little doubt that we have already lost much to invasive species. With a concerted effort, New Jersey can limit future losses and begin to reverse the damage. The agricultural, conservation and scientific communities from governmental, nongovernmental, academic and business