Current concerns: What are the issues and concerns impacting your work now? How you anticipate that changing over the next few years?

Building capacity and identifying new threats: Increased capacity for existing invasive species management programs can overcome barriers to successful management. In a recent Science Advisory Panel, a partial year internship to provide outreach materials and review firewood best practices with recreation site managers was identified as a need. What are increases in capacity would provide meaningful change to your priority invasive species management?

Science Advisory Panels: MISC Scientific Advisory Panels are composed experts brought together to provide independent, science-based recommendations for stakeholder identified issues related to invasive species management in Montana. Past issues have included the use of Environmental-DNA, scoping the potential for approval of biocontrol agents for houndstongue, and gauging the invasibility of eastern heath snail. What invasive species issues impact you or your organization that should be considered for future Science Advisory Panels?

Economic Impact of Invasive Species studies:  MISC has collaborated with researchers and economists to determine the economic impact of invasive species in Montana, including the potential impact of the introduction of invasive aquatic mussels to Montana waterways and the economic impact of the expansion of eastern heath snails. Are there invasive species that you or your organization are concerned about that could have a financial impact? Would a better understanding of the economic impact of a species cause changes in how it is managed?

Suggestions to improve compliance with Montana Invasive Species Laws: MISC has worked to improve compliance with Montana’s Invasive species laws by engaging and priority invasive species laws gaps and needs. Could improved compliance increase the success of invasive species management in your area?