--- title: "Western Governors’ Association Takes Aim at Invasive Species" id: "43646" type: "post" slug: "western-governors-association-takes-aim-at-invasive-species" published_at: "2018-08-03T21:54:51+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T22:31:53+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/08/03/western-governors-association-takes-aim-at-invasive-species/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/08/03/western-governors-association-takes-aim-at-invasive-species.md" excerpt: "With a new biosecurity initiative, the association’s incoming chair, Hawaii Gov. David Ige, is putting a premium on protecting the environment from damage caused by invasive species." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "biosecurity" - "Business" - "environmental policy" - "invasive species" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Western Governors’ Association Takes Aim at Invasive Species This week, news surfaced [of a new invasive species of South American reptile (opens in a new tab)](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-lizards/invasion-of-big-voracious-lizards-threatens-u-s-south-study-idUSKBN1KO1AF) that could cause problems from Florida to Texas. The massive tegu lizard, which can grow up to 4 feet long, is a “voracious, omnivorous predatory [species] that can live in a variety of habitats,” said Lee Fitzgerald, a professor at Texas A&M University and curator of its Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, [in comments to Reuters (opens in a new tab)](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-lizards/invasion-of-big-voracious-lizards-threatens-u-s-south-study-idUSKBN1KO1AF) . “But we can’t know what is going to happen or how intense this invasion is going to become until the effects are upon us.” Among other things, the lizards eat alligator and birds’ eggs, as well as insects and fruits. The tegu lizard is just one example of a growing problem—the spread of species that are introduced to the United States as pets. Now the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) is aiming to find solutions with its recently announced [Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative (opens in a new tab)](http://westgov.org/initiatives/biosecurity-and-invasive-species-initiative) , an effort led by Hawaii Gov. David Ige, who will serve as the association’s chairman in 2019. According to Nature Conservancy estimates [cited by the association (opens in a new tab)](http://www.westgov.org/images/editor/BISI_Launch_(002).pdf) [PDF], management of invasive species costs more than $120 billion each year. They affect an area the size of California and harm more than 40 percent of threatened and endangered species. WGA will use webinars and hold events to help draw attention to the issue. In a recent webinar, Ige noted that improving biosecurity will require a mixture of policy, tools, and best practices. “The spread of invasive species continues to be one of the biggest environmental problems facing the Western governors as well as the entire country,” [Gov. Ige said in a news release (opens in a new tab)](http://www.westgov.org/news/wga-chair-hawaii-gov.-david-ige-announces-biosecurity-and-invasive-species-initiative-july-12-webinar) . “Each state has their own unique set of challenges when it comes to invasive species, but I believe that through collaboration and sharing best practices, we can all find common ground to overcome these obstacles together.” The new initiative adds a new element to WGA’s increasing advocacy on biosecurity. This year alone, the group has launched a data management project, worked with Congress on the issue, and released a list of the [Top 50 Invasive Species in the West (opens in a new tab)](http://westgov.org/images/editor/WGA_Top_50_Invasive_Species.pdf) [PDF], including both terrestrial and aquatic species. At the top of the list are the salt cedar, a kind of shrub, and the Eurasian Watermilfoil, an aquatic weed. Both plants are native to Europe, Asia, and Africa and are known for crowding out other plants. A feral hog, one species considered invasive in the Western U.S. (Dafydd_ap_W/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#biosecurity](https://associationsnow.com/tag/biosecurity/) [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#environmental policy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/environmental-policy/) [#invasive species](https://associationsnow.com/tag/invasive-species/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [TemplateMembers onlyEnvironmental PolicyJune 3, 2010](https://associationsnow.com/2010/06/03/environmental-policy/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2018%2F08%2F03%2Fwestern-governors-association-takes-aim-at-invasive-species%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !