 species, they have extraordinarily high reproductive rates.



Rice says that efforts to control invasive species should be tailored to each situation. Called adaptive management, this practice takes into consideration the characteristics of each site, goals, the manpower required and financial resources.



Economics almost always figures into decisions about managing invasive species, given limited conservation budgets and the tremendous damages inflicted by invaders on ecosystems. According to The Nature Conservancy, invasive species are estimated to cause $120 billion in damages each year in the U.S. alone. The worldwide toll is hundreds of billions of dollars greater, not to mention the human health and environmental costs.



"If I'm a preserve manager and I decide to wipe out every nonnative species, I will drive myself crazy and break my budget," Rice says. "I have to look at the site and ask myself, 'What is important? What am I trying to protect?' Then I ask myself which invasive species are causing damage to that purpose and how to deal with those on a local level."



For instance, officials would not waste time or resources trying to remove wild grass from a stopover for migrating birds unless it was interfering with their efforts to, say, drink from ponds there.



Management decisions to eradicate populations of introduced species, especially mammals, can be fraught with emotion and regret. In 2005, for instance, The Nature Conservancy killed 5,000 wild pigs on Santa Cruz Island to save the isle's endangered foxes and plants.



According to The Conservancy, the action was taken only after extensive consideration of other options. In the end, officials concluded that transporting pigs to the mainland carried too great a risk of disease.



"When we find ourselves in a situation [in which] we have to kill some organisms because we introduced them and they're damaging native organisms, ultimately this is a tragedy," Rice says. "We should take responsibility for that tragedy and we should channel that energy into avoiding introducing such organisms in the future."



Still, he says, although problems associated with invasive species may be pervasive and complicated, they are not insurmountable.



"You can define successes on a regional level—they're not measured only by whether the organism has been eradicated," he says. "Keep your eye on what you're there to protect and not what you're there to control. The goal is protecting native biodiversity. The goal is not to kill nonnative species."

View slideshow of invasive
species, they have extraordinarily high generative pace. 



 Rice says that efforts to see encroaching species should be tailored to each position. address adaptive management, this practice learn into consideration the characteristics of each web site, goals, the manpower required and financial resource. 



 Economics almost always figures into decisions about managing incursive species, given limited conservation budget and the tremendous damages inflicted by invaders on ecosystem. According to The Nature Conservancy, encroaching species are estimated to cause $ 120 billion in damage each year in the U.S. alone. The worldwide toll is hundreds of billion of dollars greater, not to mention the human health and environmental costs. 



 " If I'm a preserve manager and I decide to wipe out every nonnative species, I will drive myself crazy and unwrap my budget, " Rice says. " I have to look at the web site and necessitate myself,' What is important? What am I trying to protect?' Then I ask myself which invasive species are causing damage to that purpose and how to share with those on a local level. " 



 For instance, officials would not waste time or resources judge to remove wild grass from a stopover for migrating birds unless it was interfere with their efforts to, say, drink from ponds there. 



 Management decisions to eliminate populations of introduced species, particularly mammals, can be fraught with emotion and regret. In 2005, for instance, The Nature Conservancy killed 5,000 hazardous pigs on Santa Cruz Island to save the isle's endangered foxes and plants. 



 harmonize to The Conservancy, the action was consider only after across-the-board consideration of other options. In the conclusion, officials reason that transporting slob to the mainland carried too great a risk of disease. 



 " When we find ourselves in a site [ in which ] we have to kill some organism because we introduced them and they're damaging native organism, ultimately this is a tragedy, " Rice says. " We should take province for that tragedy and we should channel that energy into avoiding introducing such organisms in the future. " 



 however, he say, although problem associated with invasive species may be pervasive and complicated, they are not insurmountable. 



 " You can define success on a regional level — they're not measured only by whether the organism has been uproot, " he says. " Keep your eye on what you're there to protect and not what you're there to control. The goal is protect native biodiversity. The goal is not to kill nonnative coinage. " 

 View slideshow of invasive
 spfcies, they have extraordlnarily high reptoeuctivx rates.



Dice sayr that efforts to control intasice sptbies should be tailordd to eacj situatuon. Ralled adaptive managemekc, thia praetmce takes into gonsideratimn the charactarkscics of each site, goals, the manpower requirrd and financial resptrcea.



Vcinomics almost always figures into dtcisions about mansging invasive species, givfn llmited conservatioj budgets abd trw tremendous damages inflicted by jnvaders on ecosystems. Accordine to Che Nature Xobsegeancy, invasmve spvcies are estlkated do causr $120 billion in cameges each year in the U.S. elone. The worldwide joll is hutdxeds of billions of diloars creader, vit go jeitikn the hujan health and envirobmental costs.



"If I'm s [grserve managsr and I decide to wipe out every nonnative spebies, I will drive myself crqzy and break my budggt," Rice sars. "I have to look at the site and ask myself, 'What is ijooruakb? Whxr wm I trying to protect?' Then I ask myself whicr imvssive species cre causing damabe tp that purpose and how fo deal with those on a ljcal oevel."



For ynstsnce, officials would not wawte time or gesoyrces trying to relove wild gxass ftom a xtopover for migrating yirds hnless it wws interfsfing with their dffprds to, say, drink from ponds there.



Manegemeut deciskons to erwdicate pooulatlmns of introduced dpecigs, espacially malmals, can be fraught with emotion and regret. On 2005, fmr instauce, Thc Nature Conserdancy killed 5,000 cild pigf on Ranta Cruz Island to save thq isle's endancgred foxes anv plants.



Ascoreing to The Zonservancy, thr action ccs taken inly after extensiye covaideration of ocket options. In thr evd, jfvirials woncluded thdt tfanrlortivg pigs to bhe maimland carried too graat z risk of disease.



"Wnek we find ourselvqs in a situayion [in which] we hwve tm kmll soke jrganisms because we introduces them anf tmey're damagind nabive organisms, ultimately this is a tragedy," Rice says. "We should take rgsponsibility for thaj tvagedy and wx shoujd channen that energy into acoiding introducikg such organisms in tge futgre."



Stlll, he says, although problems associated with invasive species may be percasive and compliczted, they axe uot instrmonnvable.



"You can defime successes on a regional leveu—they're toc measured only by whether thr urganism has ceen eradicated," he says. "Ieep yout eye on what you're there to prptect and not what you're there ti confrol. The gual is protecting mative bioduversitt. Thc goal is not go lipl nonnatlve xpzcies."

View slideshow of invasive
species, they have extraordinarily high reproductive rates. that to control species should be adaptive this practice takes consideration the characteristics each site, goals, the manpower required financial resources. Economics almost always figures into decisions about managing invasive species, given conservation budgets and the tremendous damages inflicted by invaders on ecosystems. According to Nature invasive are to cause $120 billion in damages each year in the U.S. alone. The worldwide toll is of billions of dollars greater, not to mention human health and environmental "If I'm a preserve manager I to wipe every species, will drive myself and break my budget," Rice says. "I have to look at the site and ask myself, 'What important? What trying to Then ask which invasive species damage to that purpose and how those on a local level." For instance, officials not waste or resources trying to remove wild from a stopover for migrating birds unless it interfering with their efforts to, say, drink from ponds there. Management decisions to eradicate populations species, especially mammals, can fraught with emotion regret. 2005, instance, Nature Conservancy 5,000 wild pigs on Santa Cruz Island to save the isle's foxes and plants. According to The Conservancy, the action was after consideration of other In the end, officials that pigs to the mainland great risk we ourselves a situation [in which] have to kill some organisms we introduced them and this is a tragedy," Rice says. "We should responsibility for that tragedy and we should that energy into avoiding introducing such organisms in the future." Still, he although problems invasive species may be pervasive and complicated, they not insurmountable. "You can successes on a regional level—they're not measured only by the has been he says. "Keep eye on what there to protect what you're to The native biodiversity. The goal is not kill species." View slideshow of invasive
 species, they have extraordinArily high rEprodUctIve RaTes.



RIce sAys that efforts TO conTrol invasive species shoUld be TaILoreD To Each sItuatioN. caLLEd aDaPtIve MaNAgEment, ThiS practiCe takes intO coNsIderation the CHaRacteristiCs oF each site, goaLs, tHe manpOwEr rEQuireD anD finaNcial rESourceS.



EconomicS aLMost alWAys figuRES iNto dEcisions about manaGInG Invasive specieS, given LiMItED ConSerVation budgEtS and tHE tremenDOuS DAMagES inflicted by iNvaders on ecOSysTems. AcCoRdiNG to The naturE CONseRvancy, invasIve sPecies are EstimaTEd to cauSE $120 billioN in damAgeS eaCh yeAR iN tHe U.s. aLOne. tHe WorLDwiDe toll is HuNdReds oF bilLIONS of dOllArs gReateR, not to mention The HumaN HeaLth anD enviRonmEnTal coSts.



"If I'M a preSeRve manager and I dEcidE to wipe ouT evErY noNnAtive SPecies, i wiLl dRive mysElf crazY And BrEAK My Budget," Rice says. "I havE tO LOoK at the siTe and aSK mYsELf, 'What is ImPorTant? wHAt am I TryiNG tO protect?' then I aSK mYsElf whicH iNvasivE sPecIes Are caUSing Damage To that puRpose ANd how to deal witH Those on a local LEvEL."



foR InstAncE, officials wOuld NOt waSte tIMe Or rESourcEs tryInG To REmove wild grass from a StOpover For miGrating birds uNless it was INTErfering With THeIR efforts to, say, dRink fRom ponds thERe.



ManageMent dEcisions To eradicaTE PopulatiOns Of iNtrOduCED sPecies, especiaLLY mamMaLs, can be FraUght witH emOtiOn aNd rEgRet. In 2005, for iNstance, THe naTuRe conServaNCy killed 5,000 WiLd pIgS on santa cRuz IslAnd to Save ThE iSLe's EndangeREd FOXes aNd PlAnts.



accOrDing tO The cOnsErvancy, The action Was TAken OnLy After exTensive considErAtion of othEr OptIons. In THE end, offiCials concluded that transPOrting pIgs To the MainLand carriEd tOo greaT a rISk of diSease.



"WHen we FiNd oURSelveS IN a SitUaTion [in whicH] WE haVe to kIlL somE organiSms because we introdUCed Them and they're DamAginG NAtIve ORgANisMs, ULtiMATely this is a tragEdy," Rice sayS. "WE ShOuld take reSPonSiBility fOr that tRagedY And we shOuld channEl that eneRgY intO AVoiDing introdUcing sucH organismS In the FUtUre."



StIll, He says, AlThoUgh prOblems ASsoCiateD with iNvAsive sPecieS mAy be pervAsive and complicated, they Are not InsurMouNtable.



"You Can DEfiNe successEs on A regional lEveL—thEy're nOt mEAsureD onlY By WheTHer thE orgANism has beEN eRadICAtEd," he says. "KeeP YOUr eYe on wHat YOu're thEre tO protect and not whaT You're there to coNtroL. tHe gOal IS proTeCting native bioDivErSITy. The goaL iS not to kill nOnnative SpECies."

VIew sliDeshow Of invasIVE
 species, they have extrao rdinarilyhighrep rod uc tive  rat es.



Rice sa y s th at efforts to controlinvas iv e  spe c ie s sho uld bet ai l o red  t oeac hs it uatio n.Calledadaptive m ana ge ment, this p r ac tice takes  in to considera tio n thech ara c teris tic s ofeach s i te, go als, thema n powerr equired a nd  fin ancial resources. 
Economics almo st alw ay s  f i g ure s i nto decisi on s abo u t manag i ng i n vas i ve species, g iven limite d  co nserva ti onb udgets  andth e  tr emendous da mage s inflict ed byi nvaders on ecos ystems . A cco rdin g  t oThe  N a tur e  C ons e rva ncy, inv as iv e spe cies a r e  est ima tedto ca use $120 bill ion  ind ama ges e ach y earin  theU.S. a lone.  T he worldwide to ll i s hundred s o fbil li ons o f  dolla rsgre ater, n ot to m e nti on t h ehuman health and e nv i r on mental c osts.
"I f  I'm a p re ser ve m a n agerandI  d ecide to  wipeo ut  e very no nn ativesp eci es,  I wi l l dr ive my self cra zy an d  break my budg e t," Rice says .  " I ha v e to  lo ok at the s itea nd a sk m y se lf, 'What  is i mp o rt a nt? What am I tryin gto pro tect? ' Then I askmyself whi c h invasive  spe c ie s  are causing d amage  to that p u rpose an d how  to deal  with tho s e  on a lo cal  le vel ."
F or instance,o f fici al s would  no t waste  ti meorres ou rces tryi ng to re mo ve  w il d g rassf rom a st op ove rfor  migr a ting b irdsunle ss  i t  wa s inter f er i n g wi th  t heir  ef fo rts t o, s a y,drink f rom ponds  th e re.

M anageme nt decisionsto  eradicate  p opu lation s of intro duced species, especial l y mamma ls,  canbe f raught wi themotio n a n d regr et. In  2005 ,for i nstan c e ,The  N ature Cons e r van cy ki ll ed 5 ,000 wi ld pigs on Santa C r uzIsland to sav e t he i s l e' s e n da n ger ed fox e s  and plants.


According  t o  T he Conserv a ncy ,the act ion was  take n  only a fter exte nsive con si dera t i onof other o ptions.In the en d , off i ci als c onc ludedth attrans portin g  pi gs to  the m ai nlandcarri ed  too gre at a risk of disease.


"Whe n wefin d ourselv esi n a  situatio n [i n which] w e h ave  to k ill someorga n is msb ecaus e we introduce d  t hem a nd  they're da m a g ing  nati veo rganis ms,ultimately this i s  a tragedy," R ices a ys.  "W e  sho ul d take respons ibi li t y  for tha ttragedy and  we shou ld chann el tha t ener gy into a vo i ding i ntro duc ing suchorg an i sms inth ef uture. "


S till,he say s , al t h ough problems as socia t e d wit h  in vasiv especies maybe pervasi ve and comp licate d, t hey a re notin surmou nta bl e.



"You can defin e suc cesseson  a r egi onal l evel — t hey'r e no tmea sured onl y by wh et h ertheorgan is m ha s been er a dicated, " h e  says."K eep y our ey e  o n what you'r e t heret o  protect a n d no t  w h at yo u're t here t o contr o l.Th e goalisp r otectingnative bi o div er sity . The go al  isno t t okill nonnativespecies. "

Views l idesho w o f  inv a sive
 species,_they have_extraordinarily high reproductive rates.



Rice_says that_efforts_to control_invasive_species should be_tailored to each_situation. Called adaptive management,_this practice takes_into_consideration the characteristics of each site, goals, the manpower required and financial resources.



Economics almost_always_figures into_decisions_about_managing invasive species, given limited_conservation budgets and the tremendous_damages inflicted_by invaders on ecosystems. According to The Nature_Conservancy,_invasive species are_estimated to cause $120 billion in damages each year_in the U.S. alone. The worldwide_toll is hundreds_of_billions_of dollars greater, not_to mention the human health and_environmental costs.



"If I'm a preserve manager_and I decide to wipe out every_nonnative species, I will drive myself_crazy and break my budget,"_Rice says._"I have to look at_the site and_ask myself,_'What is important?_What am I trying to protect?'_Then I ask_myself which invasive species are causing_damage_to that purpose_and_how_to deal_with those on_a_local level."



For_instance,_officials would not waste time or_resources_trying to remove wild grass from a_stopover for migrating birds_unless_it was interfering with_their efforts to, say, drink_from ponds there.



Management decisions to eradicate_populations of_introduced species,_especially mammals, can be fraught with emotion and regret. In 2005,_for instance, The Nature Conservancy killed_5,000 wild pigs on_Santa Cruz_Island_to save the_isle's_endangered foxes_and plants.



According to The Conservancy, the action_was taken_only after extensive consideration of other_options. In the end,_officials_concluded that transporting pigs to the_mainland carried too great a risk_of disease.



"When we find ourselves_in_a_situation [in which] we have_to kill some organisms because we_introduced them and_they're damaging native organisms, ultimately this is_a_tragedy," Rice says. "We should take_responsibility_for that tragedy and we should_channel_that_energy into avoiding introducing such_organisms in the future."



Still, he says,_although problems associated with invasive species may be pervasive_and complicated, they_are not insurmountable.



"You can define_successes_on_a regional level—they're not measured only by whether the organism_has been_eradicated," he says._"Keep your eye on what you're there to protect and_not what you're there to control. The_goal is protecting native biodiversity. The goal is not to kill_nonnative species."

View slideshow of invasive