Maine Invasive Species Network (MISN) brings together both professionals and amateurs who are interested in understanding and managing invasive species in Maine.

Our members work, among other places, at the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, University of Maine, Nature Conservancy, Colby College, Unity College, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Maine Lakes Society, several land trusts, and for private land management companies. We also have many citizens who are simply concerned about land stewardship and preservation of natural ecosystems.

MISN and this website were conceived in October 2009, when a group of 45 people met in Augusta at the first meeting to bring together people who work intensively on invasive plants, animals, and other invasive species in Maine.

Please let us know if you want to join.

Purpose of MISN

  • serve as a communication tool;
  • help members identify and pursue collaborative projects;
  • support research on management of invasive species;
  • map invasive species populations;
  • present funding opportunities;
  • exchange species-specific information;
  • explore new tools to monitor populations;
  • develop and distribute educational materials;
  • provide outreach opportunities; and
  • exchange database tools.

2024 Annual Meeting

Annual meeting of the Maine Invasive Species Network will take place 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM on April 11, 2024 at Wells Conference Center, 131 Munson Rd on the University of Maine campus in Orono. Pesticide applicator and forestry credits will be available.
 
Please check out the meeting agenda. Registration is now open and will remain so until March 28.
 
If interested in presented a poster on a research, extension, or outreach project related to invasive species in Maine, please contact Mary Yurlina (Mary.Yurlina@maine.gov). Poster board size will be 36″x48″.

Invasive Species Awareness Week

National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) is just around the corner, being celebrated this year February 26 – March 3, 2024.  NISAW has always been a great excuse to create opportunities that promote invasive species work on the local level.  NISAW provides a variety of resources to help local organizations share invasive species outreach with the local media, as well as provide creative ideas to engage your local community on invasive species issues. Last year, Governor Mills declared this week as Invasive Species Awareness Week in Maine.
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry also put out a number of newsletters during NISAW last year to help with invasive species outreach:

2/21/2023 – National Invasive Species Awareness Week: Save Your Skin, Follow the 4 Rs to Knock Out Browntail Moth

2/22/2023 – NISAW: Woodpecker Assist

2/23/2023 – NISAW: Learn How To Spot a Sucker

2/24/2023 – Governor Mills Proclaims Invasive Species Awareness Week

2/25/2023 – NISAW: Visit Some Beeches

2/26/2023 – National Invasive Species Awareness Week: Tapped out?