Priority Species
The Lower Hudson PRISM follows a Tiered categorization of species adopted by the invasive species program leaders in New York state.
| Tier 1 | Early Detection/Prevention | Highest level of early detection survey efforts. Should conduct delineation surveys and assign to appropriate Tier if detected. |
| Tier 2 | Eradication | Highest level of early detection response efforts. High impact species with low enough abundance and suitable treatment method available to make eradication feasible within the PRISM. Need delineation surveys to determine extent. |
| Tier 3 | Containment | Target strategic management to slow the spread, as likely too widespread for eradication, but many surrounding regions could be at risk if left unattended. |
| Tier 4 | Local Control | Eradication from PRISM not feasible; focus on localized management over time to contain, exclude, or suppress to protect high-priority resources like rare species or recreation assets. Be strategic when deciding if/where to control. |
| Tier 5 | Monitor | Species that need more research, mapping, and monitoring to understand their invasiveness. This includes naturalized species and cultivated‐only species that are known to be invasive in other regions but are not yet invasive here. Invasiveness may change with environmental or genetic changes. Should monitor populations on a regular basis to see if they are starting to become invasive and assign to appropriate Tier if invasive infestations detected |
Species categorizations - The Lower Hudson PRISM conducts working groups to categorize our invasive species into the above Tier categories for use in prioritizing our survey and management efforts. Our current categorization is documented here.
