Invasive species wreak havoc on the wild spaces and agriculture throughout the region. In New York, the state Department of Environmental Conservation defines invasive species as “non-native species that can cause harm to the environment, the economy or human health.” According to the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, about 37% of the roughly 3,400 species of plants in PA are non-native to the state.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County’s, “Invasive Species to Have on Your Radar,” Webinar is an educational session focused on raising awareness about the invasive species threatening the local wildlife and ecosystems in Sullivan County.
With approximately 42 percent of threatened or endangered species at risk due to invasive non-native flora, fauna and microorganisms, CCE aims to inform the public about the specific invasive species they should be vigilant about.
Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke to Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County’s Katie Gasior an Horticulture Subject Educator about the threat these species pose.
Image: The spotted lanternfly. (Credit: Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)