Gaeppc.org
Title
Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council
Description
We began with an organizational meeting back in March of 1999 sponsored by USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service). USDA's purpose was to bring together organizations within the state of Georgia to initiate awareness and strategy in combating invasive and exotic pest plants. The featured speaker at this meeting was Randy Westbrooks, an Invasive Plant Liaison with USDA. Randy discussed what was being done on a national level regarding invasive and exotic plant species and the need to develop strategies on the state level as well. After some comments and discussion the group decided there was a need to form a state council to focus attention on management and awareness of exotic pest plants.
Our next meeting was held in June, and the first topic of discussion was what we would call our organization. We had some discussion of what was being done in neighboring states and the southeast with invasive and exotic pest plant organizations. Both Tennessee and Florida had formed Exotic Pest Plant Councils and have collaborated to form a Southeastern Exotic Pest Plant Council. We looked at our goals for developing an organization and decided that the aforementioned councils had some of the same focus as we desired. Thus the Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council was formed. Once we had decided on a name, committees were formed to develop a mission statement, by-laws, and an exotic pest plant list. An additional committee was formed to put together a symposium that would allow the Council to deliver its mission, provide an educational forum and encourage membership for this new organization.
In subsequent meetings we finalized our mission statement, developed "working by-laws", established a Georgia exotic pest plant list and are promoting The First Annual Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Symposium. In addition the Council nominated a "working" board of directors to steer this organization in its goals and objectives of exotic pest plant management.
Contact
- BUGWOOD NETWORK
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- TIFTON GA
- United States 31793
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- +1.2293863298
