Launching the eXtension Invasive Species Community of Practice (CoP) (Feb 24, 2012)
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Bugwood Blog.
The Invasive Species CoP is a national Web site designed to connect and mobilize audiences and parties through an Invasive Species Learning and Action Network. It is through this network that the Invasive Species CoP seeks to involve or connect Cooperative Extension invasive species educators, researchers, outreach and communications experts from leading universities across the U.S. with Master Gardeners, outdoor hobbyists, natural resources professionals and decision makers throughout the U.S.

Battling Insects that Cause Trouble in Paradise (Feb 23, 2012)
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Nothing in life is perfect, not even tropical paradises, thanks to invading pests like the Japanese beetle and the Oriental fruit fly, but ARS Entomologists have borrowed some weapons from Mother Nature to make the pests' lives a little less paradisiacal. Both insects also cause problems in the U.S., so the efforts by USDA's researchers may provide mutual benefits.

Obama Administration Releases 2012 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework (Feb 23, 2012)
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee.
The Obama Administration announced a series of new measures to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp, building on the unprecedented proactive plan the Administration established in February 2010 to prevent this invasive species from developing self-sustaining populations in the Great Lakes.

US Forest Service Research Used in New, Invasive-plant Software: iPhone Application Helps People Identify Harmful, Nonnative Plants (Feb 22, 2012)
USDA. FS. Southern Research Station.
U.S. Forest Service research and funding have led to the development of a free software application that will help people identify and control destructive invasive plants in Southern forests and grasslands. See our Smartphone Applications page for more app resources.

Fighting Crimes Against Biodiversity: How to Catch a Killer Weed (Feb 10, 2012)
Queen Mary. University of London.
Invasive species which have the potential to destroy biodiversity and influence global change could be tracked and controlled in the same way as wanted criminals, according to new research from Queen Mary, University of London. Geographic profiling (GP) was originally developed as a statistical tool in criminology, where it uses the locations of linked crimes to identify the predicted location of the offender's residence. Researchers have shown that this technique can also be used to identify the source of populations of invasive animals and plants such as Giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed. See related article Geographic profiling as a novel spatial tool for targeting the control of invasive species.

The (Plant) Doctor is In (Feb 8, 2012)
USDA. Blog.
USDA and CABI's Plantwise Initiative have formed a recent partnership. In collaboration with local organizations, Plantwise has formed a network of 182 clinics across 19 countries to increase food security by decreasing crop losses. Through the partnership, USDA research and information will be electronically transferred to the Plantwise global knowledge bank so that the "plant doctors" at these clinics will have easier access to in order to help farmers in far off places diagnose and control the plant pests and diseases affecting their fields.

See CABI's press release for more information -- New Global Plant Health Resource to Improve Food Security (Jul 26, 2011)
For the first time ever, distribution maps, diagnostic support and treatment advice for thousands of the world's most damaging pests and diseases of plants and crops are being made available free of charge on the Plantwise site.

USDA Does its Part to Bring Valentine's Day Cheer (Feb 14, 2012)
USDA. Blog.
Did you know that USDA helps in bringing Valentine's Day cheer every year? With the help of Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection, USDA's Animal and Plant health Inspection Service (APHIS) safely imports millions of cut flowers into the U.S. free from harmful plant pests and diseases from Jan 1-Feb 14 in preparation for the Valentine's Season.

CBP Ensures Valentine’s Day Flowers are Pest-Free (Feb 7, 2012)
DHS. Customs and Border Protection.
During the weeks leading to Valentine's Day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's highly trained agriculture specialists have been ensuring that plant diseases and plant pests are detected and prevented from being introduced into the U.S. where they could cause harm.

New Insights into Invasive Plant Management (Feb 3, 2012)
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
ARS Scientists have created a model called Ecologically Based Invasive-Plant Management (EBIPM) that can significantly boost land managers' rate of success in restoring native vegetation on rangeland damaged by invasive plants like cheatgrass that not only limit livestock grazing options, but also fuel wildfires.