How is NPS managing exotic species?
The National Park Service is working cooperatively with local, state and federal organizations to manage exotic species. For example, Yellowstone National Park is working with surrounding states, forests and communities to develop and implement long-range projects to manage exotic plants. An Exotic Species Ranking System has been developed by the Park Service for resource managers to evaluate exotic plants within a park according to the level of impact of the species and its innate ability to become a pest. The system is designed to separate innocuous species from the more disruptive species. For example, of Indiana Dunes” mre than 1,440 vascular plants, 300 are exotic, but only 14 of these exotics are considered to be major threats at this time. The Park Service, as a leader in exotic plant control, has assisted with the establishment of several Exotic Pest Plant Councils. These councils represent dozens of agencies at the state, federal and private levels across the country dealing
