Nassau & Suffolk County Invasive Species Legislation
As part of their long-term plans to slow the spread of invasive species, the Counties of Suffolk and Nassau passed local laws prohibiting the sale, introduction, and propagation of 63 invasive, nonnative plants. Among the species banned are purple loosestrife, Japanese honeysuckle, autumn olive, and multiflora rose. The prohibition went into effect January 2009 for most species (the aquatic forget-me-not and honeysuckles are prohibited beginning January 2011).
Each county developed the same “Do Not Sell” list and similar legislation in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, LIISMA, the nursery industry, botanists, field scientists, and environmental agencies. The concept for the Suffolk County legislation was first outlined in the 2006 Suffolk County Invasive Task Force report entitled A Strategy to Develop and Implement the Suffolk County Invasive Species Management Program.
The invasive plant “Do Not Sell’ list does not represent the “wish list” of any individual, agency or industry representative. The “Do Not Sell” list represents a compromise reflecting the varied interests, training and knowledge of stakeholders as a whole. It also represents a vision for better action and coordination for invasive species management.
Each county advisory board will periodically review additional invasive species, and revisions to the “Do Not Sell” list may be made. The results from the LIISMA invasiveness ranking system reviewed by the LIISMA Scientific Review Committee will help inform the work of the county advisory boards.
For more information about the current Do Not Sell Lists see Suffolk County Local Law 27-2009 and Nassau County Local Law 22-2009