Invasive plant and animal species can be devastating to the regions they invade, threatening ecosystems, economies and human health. A one-size-fits-all method of prevention, detection and management does not exist, so environmental managers need species-specific guides to combat the more than 400 invasive species currently in New York state.

In 2018, thanks to support from Engaged Cornell, the New York Invasive Species Research Institute brought on 3 undergraduate interns to work with Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs) and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, to identify some of the highest priority invasive species and develop best practice guides for these species. These guides were constructed through review of scientific literature as well as interviews with managers in the field to integrate and balance scientific findings with real-life limitations managers face.