Partnerships
WNY PRISM is a regional partnership created to address the negative impacts of invasive species on our economy, environment, and human health. Our collaborative approach to invasive species management allows for coordinated and cooperative efforts that share and leverage limited resources and result in improved control and prevention efforts.
Partnership is essential for successful invasive species management. The WNY PRISM partnership includes state, federal, and local agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses, universities and research institutes, community members, and private landowners.
The Importance of Collaboration
The environmental, economic and human health impacts of invasive species affect everyone, sometimes in unexpected ways.
Invasive species cross boundaries – they don’t stop at property lines or political borders; they spread readily through multiple Pathways of Invasion.
The economic cost of invasive species continues to increase and includes both the cost of management and the economic loss due to invasive species impacts. Current estimates are as high as $400 billion annually for North America and the longer we wait, the higher that cost will get.
Working together by pooling resources and sharing expertise is the best way to improve control efforts. Together we can improve the success of management, reduce the negative impacts of invasive species and reduce the cost and economic harm
Get Involved – Become a Partner
WNY PRISM has worked with over 200 partners, each with different levels of involvement and collaboration. Every partner has different interests and goals and all you need to do is reach out to learn how we can work together. The easiest way to get started is to attend one of our partner meetings. Partner Meetings are held twice a year, in the spring (April) and fall (October).
There are many ways to become a WNY PRISM partner.
- Stay Informed – join the WNY PRISM Listserv
- Join one of WNY PRISM’s Working Groups
- Report Invasive Species – use iMapInvasives online mapping tool
- Attend WNY PRISM Events, Meetings, and Trainings
- Provide WNY PRISM with information on your current and past invasive species management efforts
- Support partner efforts and project proposals
- Help get word out about partner events and opportunities
- Share resources
WNY PRISM’s 2016 Fall Partner Meeting, held at Woodlawn Beach State Park. Photo Credit: WNY PRISM
Funding/Grant Opportunities
WNY PRISM works closely with our partners to identify potential funding sources, and assists with securing funds. This is done by identifying partnership opportunities and connecting appropriate partners, reviewing proposals, and by providing letters of support.
WNY PRISM has developed the following guide to assist partners in identifying invasive species related funding opportunities available for work in our region. While we strive to keep this resource up to date, the grants and funding landscape is constantly changing. You can help us keep this guide current and useful by providing new and updated information to WNY PRISM at wnyprism@buffalostate.edu. Please use ‘Funding Resources’ as the subject line.
