Working Together to Combat Invasive Species Threats: Strategies for Facilitating Cooperation Between the National Park Service and States

Invasive species are a significant environmental and economic threat throughout the United States. Over 6,500 non-native species have been documented on national park lands. To adequately address invasive species issues, the National Park Service must work cooperatively with state governments to prevent the introduction and spread of non-native species. A variety of mechanisms, both formal and informal, are available to the National Park Service to cooperatively manage park ecosystems with their neighboring land management agencies. Coordination of programs can be achieved through simple informal working relationships between agency staff, incorporation of state laws into park policies, or negotiation of formal memoranda of agreement imposing contractual obligations. This article will highlight, through the lens of invasive species management, the legal options available to facilitate federal-state cooperation across National Park System boundaries