Working Group Reports:
Scientific
Aspects of Early Warning
Appendices:
Pre-Workshop Concept Paper
In their discussions at the workshop, participants identified a variety of next steps and actions to be taken to further efforts in designing and implementing a National Early Warning and Rapid Response System for Invasive Plants in the U.S. Participants recommended that the following next steps be conducted by FICMNEW, in close coordination with the staff of the National Invasive Species Council. In a number of instances, workshop participants are already working to develop state level components of the proposed system.
TASK 1: Hold a post-workshop meeting at the USGS Field Office for Invasive Species, in Whiteville, North Carolina, to begin finalizing the proceedings. The meeting was held in August, 2000, and was attended by Deb Hayes, Bill Gregg, Bob Spaide (APHIS PPQ), and Randy Westbrooks.
TASK 2: Finalize workshop proceedings for publication (hard copy) by FICMNEW and for general electronic distribution.
TASK 3: Distribute the Workshop Proceedings and the proposed National Early Warning Strategy to all workshop participants, FICMNEW, the National Invasive Species Council, and the Invasive Species Advisory Committee.
TASK 4: Post the Workshop Proceedings on the internet.
TASK 5: Publicize stakeholder ideas related to the proposed system.
 | Develop a multi-media presentation on the proposed Early Warning System. |
| Give presentations on the National Early Warning System at scientific meetings such as: Ecological Society of America, North American Weed Management Association (NAWMA) meeting, Weed Science Society of America, North American Natural Resources Conference. |
| Meet with State Weed Teams/Councils that are already organized to discuss their role in developing the National Early Warning System. |
TASK 6: Utilizing the Workshop Proceedings as a primary source document representing stakeholder input, develop a National Early Warning and Rapid Response Action Plan for FICMNEW, Agency, and Public Review.
TASK 7: Once agency and public comments have been incorporated into the plan, submit it to the National Invasive Species Council for review and approval.
TASK 8: Establish additional working groups under the FICMNEW Early Warning Sub-committee to provide guidance in actual implementation of the primary elements of the approved system including:
| Early Detection, Reporting, Taxonomic Support, and Information Management |
| Rapid Assessment |
| Rapid Response |
| Early Warning Outreach and Education |
TASK 9: Appoint a National Early Warning
System Coordinator to lead the development and operation of the system.