Center for Invasive Species Research

The Center for Invasive Species Research, based on the University of California Riverside campus, provides a forward-looking approach to managing invasions in California by exotic pests and diseases. It is well recognized that inadvertent introductions of exotic insect pests, plant diseases, weeds, and other noxious organisms (e.g., exotic crabs and mussels) provide a major and continuing threat to California's agricultural, urban, and natural environments as well as the state's precious supplies of fresh water.

California acquires one new exotic species, on average, every 60 days. At this rate, around six new species establish in California each year. Estimated losses arising from the uncontrolled population growth of these pests amounts to an estimated $3 billion per annum. The problems caused by invasive species in California are likely to worsen as population growth continues and imports from an ever increasing diversity of countries accelerates.

A major component of the center's efforts relates to the economic, ecological, and sociological effects of exotic pest introductions on the well being of the burgeoning demography of California. An important role of the center is to foster cooperation and coordination of research efforts among the UC campuses, USDA, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), conservation organizations (e.g., California Invasive Plants Council), and the agricultural industry.