History
In November 2005, the New York State Invasive Species Task Force
presented its
final
report to the Governor and Legislature detailing the extent of the
invasive species problem in the state, analyzing existing efforts to manage
and combat the problem, and providing a series of recommendations to address
existing needs.
Recommendation 8 was the establishment of an independent center for
invasive species research. A center was needed to help coordinate
invasive species research efforts and expertise that are currently scattered
across New York State in order to improve management.
Cornell University, with its Land
Grant mission and link to NY’s Sea
Grant College, its long-term research and outreach interest in invasive
species, and its rich history of outreach and extension through
Cornell Cooperative Extension, has
been chosen to serve as the home institution for the NY Invasive Species
Research Institute (NYISRI).
In 2008, Cornell, with support from the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation,
established the NYISRI at the
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences within the
Department of Natural Resources.