WHEREAS, invasive species can destroy Maine’s lakes and rivers, native trees and forests, plants and crops, impact the economy, pose risks to human health, impair infrastructure and impede transportation, water delivery systems, and energy production; and

WHEREAS, state agencies, lake associations, land trusts, soil and water conservation districts, and environmental non-governmental organization staff are dedicated to managing invasive species populations that may directly impact people, small businesses such as guides, restaurants, motels, bait shops, and general stores, pets, and livestock, and pose a high risk of spreading, and

WHEREAS, invasive species are becoming increasingly harder to control as a result of rapid global commercialization and human influence, and the costs to prevent, monitor, and control invasive species combined with the costs of their impact exceed an estimated $120 billion annually; and

WHEREAS, invasive species are a significant threat to almost half of all native species currently listed as federally endangered, and after habitat destruction, invasive species are the second greatest threat to biodiversity; and

WHEREAS, winter is the best time for coordination within state government, local communities, and directly with citizens to respond to invasive species threats;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim the week of February 26 through March 3, 2024 as

Invasive Species Awareness Week

throughout the State of Maine, and I urge all citizens to recognize this observance and to promote knowledge and understanding of the threats posed by invasive species.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this fourteenth day of February Two Thousand Twenty-Four