Mission & Vision
Vision Statement:
Alaska’s diverse environmental, cultural, and economic resources are free from the impacts of invasive species.
Mission Statement:
We provide statewide leadership to prevent, detect and manage invasive species in Alaska by facilitating and fostering invasive species awareness, knowledge and information sharing, and collaboration among diverse stakeholders.
History
During the 1990s, invasive species in Alaska were increasing their footprint, leading to concerns for agricultural production, and management of natural resources. Hearing these concerns from public and private land managers the UAF Cooperative Extension Service brought together interested parties for the first Alaska Invasive Species meeting and workshop (June 15, 2000), which turned into an annual meeting and workshop. At the first meeting, the primary focus was looking for solutions to controlling noxious and invasive plants in interior Alaska. The need for collaboration was evident and the group formed the Alaska Committee for Noxious and Invasive Plant Management (CNIPM). Early efforts by CNIPM resulted in a strong foundation for invasive species management. They organized a board that helped establish the University of Alaska, Anchorage hosted Alaska Exotic Plant Information Clearinghouse, a database of invasive plant locations, and the invasive plant ranking system.
As concern grew for the spread of additional taxa of invasive species (diseases, vertebrates, fishes, etc.) UAF Cooperative Extension Service again gathered public and private land managers and lawmakers for a meeting that resulted in the Alaska Invasive Species Working Group (2007). CNIPM and AISWG collaborated on a joint annual Alaska Invasive Species Workshop. The groups realized that cross taxa collaboration was imperative and the CNIPM changed its bylaws to include other taxa of invasive species and changed the name to the Committee of Noxious and Invasive Pest Management (2016). While the name CNIPM is missed by many, the group changed its name to the Alaska Invasive Species Partnership (2019) to erase any confusion about the group’s new role and created a new fresh logo in 2020. The Partnerships have been gaining membership and momentum ever since.
Guiding documents
Memorandum of Understanding
As of January 2023, the AKISP MOU has been updated by an Ad hoc Committee of the Board to meet current AKISP organizational needs. During the November 2022 AK Invasive Species Workshop in Anchorage, the AKISP members reviewed the draft MOU, provided comments/edits, and approved the updated version. The final MOU is ready for signature by partner organizations/entities. The current list of signatories can be found here. If you have any questions/concerns about signing, please email the AKISP Board of Directors at: akispboard@gmail.com.
Strategic Plan 2023-2028
The most recent strategic plan was finished in 2023. This plan was developed collaboratively with engaged stakeholders of the Alaska invasive species community. Many agencies and organizations participated in identifying priorities for future invasive species work in Alaska. These parties engaged in setting goal, strategies, and action items for this Alaska Invasive Species Partnership Strategic Plan, in order to protect the unique environments, cultural practices, and economies of the state.
Committees of the Partnership
The AKISP forms standing committees to address specific topics of concern. Below is a list of those committees, their mission statements when available, and a contact for more information or to participate in the committee.
Annual Workshop Planning
This committee works throughout the year to plan and prepare for the Annual AKISP Workshop. Contact Gino Graziano via email at gagraziano@alaska.edu for more information.
Elodea
Vision: Alaskans collaborating to keep freshwater ecosystems free of Elodea to protect the resources and livelihoods that depend on them.
Mission: The Elodea committee strives to protect and rehabilitate freshwater ecosystems in Alaska by improving the effectiveness of actions such as research, prevention, early detection, rapid response, outreach, and education through collaboration and resource sharing among partners. The Alaska Elodea Survey Map Viewer is available here. Contact Nicole Swenson at nicole_swenson@fws.gov for more information.
Government Relations
Mission: The AKISP Government Relations committee is dedicated to engaging with governmental entities about invasive species and the AKISP, and to support and inform policies to promote prevention and management of invasive species in Alaska. Contact Tammy Davis via email at tammy.davis@alaska.gov for more information.
Marine
Mission: The Marine Invasive Species committee provides a forum for community-based stakeholders to discuss and problem-solve early detection monitoring, education research, and new detections together with identifying and working to mitigate events that could facilitate the spread of marine invasive species. Contact Tammy Davis at tammy.davis@alaska.gov or Danielle Verna at dverna@pwsrcac.org for more information.
Northern Pike
Mission: The mission of the AKISP Northern Pike committee is to maximize protection and restoration of fisheries and ecosystems from the impacts of invasive Northern pike through multidisciplinary collaboration, coordination, and communication, using the best available science, across all pike efforts in the state. The committee has developed a comprehensive management plan and encourages feedback and comment. Contact Krissy Dunker at kristine.dunker@alaska.gov or Parker Bradley at parker.bradley@alaska.gov for more information.
Outreach & Education
Mission: The purpose of the AKISP Outreach and Education committee is to create, synthesize, and amplify outreach tools and efforts in accordance with current strategic plans to inspire the urgent and effective action necessary to keep Alaska wild and free from invasive species. Contact Ashley Lutto at ashley_lutto@fws.gov for more information.
Board of Directors
AKISP Board Members are elected at the Annual Workshop. Below is a list of currently serving board members, their professional affiliation and contact information.
Incoming and Outgoing 2023/2024 Board members are pictured above during the 2023 Annual Workshop in Sitka, AK. From left to right: Patrick Houlihan, incoming (2024-2025); Gino Graziano, Chair/incoming (2024-2025); John Hudson, Vice-Secretary (2023-2024); Genelle Winter, outgoing; Danielle Verna, outgoing; Joni Johnson, outgoing; Katherine Schake, outgoing; Ben Wishnek, Secretary, incoming (2024-2025); Tammy Davis (2023-2024); Parker Bradley (2024-2025); Summer Nay (2023-2024); Nicole Swenson, incoming (2024-2025); Jillian Jablonski (2023-2024); Maura Schumacher (2023-2024). Credit: Ashley Lutto/USFWS.
| Board Member | Affiliation | Telephone | |
| Tammy Davis | Alaska Department of Fish & Game | tammy.davis@alaska.gov | (907) 465-6183 |
| Renee Goentzel | Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities | renee.goentzel@alaska.gov | (907) 269-0714 |
| Gino Graziano | University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service | gagraziano@alaska.edu | (907) 786-6314 |
| Ben Wishnek | United States Fish and Wildlife Service | benyamin_wishnek@fws.gov | (907) 260-2819 |
| Summer Nay | Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation District | summer.nay@salchadeltaswcd.org | (907) 616-0302 |
| Jillian Jablonski | United States Forest Service | jillian.jablonski@usda.gov | (630) 542-9424 |
| Parker Bradley | Alaska Department of Fish and Game | parker.bradley@alaska.gov | |
| Maura Schumacher | United States Fish and Wildlife Service | maura_schumacher@fws.gov | (907) 395-7818 |
| John Hudson | Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition | john@sawcak.org | (907) 419-4677 |
| Nicole Swenson | United States Fish and Wildlife Service | nicole_swenson@fws.gov | (907) 545-3249 |
| Patrick Houlihan | Homer Soil and Water Conservation District | patrick@homerswcd.org | (907) 235-8177 ex 5 |
From left to right: Northern pike, Elodea, signal crayfish, weed pulling enthusiast. Northern pike (Esox lucius) are native to many parts of the state but are an invasive species where they have been introduced in Southcentral Alaska. Elodea (Elodea spp.) are invasive aquatic plants that has spread to waterbodies in Interior and Southcentral Alaska. Signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) are invasive freshwater crustaceans that have been introduced to Kodiak Island. Weed pulling enthusiasts are community volunteers who help to manage invasive species throughout the state.