Law steps up pest control
List of invasive species designed to halt introduction of invaders
Published 11:23 pm, Tuesday, July 24, 2012
ALBANY — The state will create a list of invasive plants and animals that will be illegal for New Yorkers to own, under a new law signed Tuesday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The Invasive Species Prevention Act requires the Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Agriculture and Markets to list species that will be unlawful for people to possess with the intent to sell or introduce.
The agencies also will create lists of other regulated species that would be legal to possess, sell, buy, breed and transport, although with restrictions.
"At a time when community resources are already being stretched to the limit, this bill will ease the burden of management costs by preventing new introductions of harmful invasives," said Troy Weldy, The Nature Conservancy's representative on the state Invasive Species Advisory Committee.
Invasive species are non-native plants and animals that can harm the environment and economically important industries like farming, forestry, tourism and commercial and recreational fishing. Invasive species are expensive to manage or eradicate, and cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year.