U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs, Doug Domenech, this week announced $1,488,890 in fiscal year 2018 grants to combat invasive species and protect natural resources in the U.S. Territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau.
“Invasive species in the islands are disruptive for both marine and terrestrial resources in the islands, which already face a delicate balance,” said Domenech. “Secretary Zinke and I are pleased to help control and eradicate invasive species in the islands in order to protect public health, livelihoods, and fragile environments and economies.”
The funding provided in the announcement included:
• U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) — $43,557 to develop a website and outreach plan to create awareness about invasive species and their impacts in the territory. It will also create a link between resource managers, educators, policy makers and the general public on invasive species and potential eradication plans. In 2016, DLNR developed the first Invasive Species Action Plan for the territory.
