WHEREAS, “species” means a group of organisms all of which have a high degree of physical and genetic similarity and typically reproduce only among themselves; and
WHEREAS, “native plant species” means, with respect to a particular ecosystem, a plant species that, other than as a result of an introduction, historically occurred or currently occurs in that ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, “non-native plant species” are not necessarily invasive species. A non-native plant may be benign or minimally interfere with the native ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, “invasive plant species” means a plant species whose introduction does, or is likely to, cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health; and
WHEREAS, invasive plant species may also be alternatively known as an alien, exotic, injurious, introduced, naturalized, non-native, non-indigenous, nuisance, or noxious species; and
WHEREAS, the environmental harm caused by invasive species includes decreased food availability, decreased habitat quality, decreased species diversity, increased habitat fragmentation, and weakened ecosystem defenses (LDWF WAP 2015); and
WHEREAS, there is a long history of federal invasive species lists available including Executive Order 13112 and the National Invasive Species Council; and
WHEREAS, “all 50 states and the U.S. territories have at least some invasive plants and animals. A few (e.g., Hawaii, Florida, Louisiana, the Great Lakes states, and California) have so many harmful non- natives as to cause major ecological and economic damage to a variety of locations and industries.” (Invasive Species: Major Laws and the Role of Selected Federal Agencies https://nationalaglawcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/assets/crs/R43258.pdf); and
WHEREAS, educating the public about which plants are invasive is a necessary first step in reducing the use of invasive plant species in home and community landscapes; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has developed lists of invasive species, including native plant species, and published this information in their Wildlife Action Plan, which is updated every 5 years.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Louisiana Wildlife Federation supports public education about invasive plant species and their impact on the economy, environment, and human health in the State of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges the adoption of the lists published in the Wildlife Action Plan as the official state lists of invasive species.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officially adopted lists, including all future updates of these lists, shall be used by all state agencies and widely published to be easily accessible to the public.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in Convention Assembled on March 15, 2025 in Woodworth, Louisiana.