About the Invasive Species Working Group (ISWG)

The Florida Invasive Species Working Group (ISWG) was formed as result of meetings between representatives from state and federal agencies. The meetings, at the request of the Governor, were organized to determine the most effective way of developing a comprehensive statewide plan that coordinates the responsibilities of government agencies to prevent and manage all biological invasions in Florida. The representatives at the meetings recognized a working group, comprised of all state agencies having jurisdictional responsibilities for invasive non-native species, needed to be formed. T he Florida ISWG is comprised of representatives from nine state agencies and one university.

State Agency Invasive Species Responsibilities

Monk parakeets nesting in
electrical power poles

Strategic Plan

The final draft of the statewide strategic plan has now been completed and sent to federal agencies for their review. A copy of the plan can be downloaded below. The PDF file contains bookmarks so sections of the strategic plan can be easily located.

Final Draft Statewide Invasive Species Strategic Plan for Florida [PDF 3.6 mb]

History

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection undertook the responsibility of organizing and facilitating a July 10, 2001 meeting, at the request of the Governor, to determine the most effective way of developing a comprehensive statewide plan that unifies and coordinates the responsibilities of government agencies to prevent and manage all biological invasions in Florida. The representatives from the state and federal agencies that attended this first meeting recognized a working group comprising all of the state agencies having jurisdictional responsibilities for invasive non-native species needed to be formed to carry out the Governor’s request of developing a statewide invasive species management plan. In subsequent meetings, the Invasive Species Working Group (ISWG) was formed.