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State offers $3.6 million in grants to fight invasive species, hosts educational series

Spotted lanternfly in Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Spotted lanternfly in Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Invasive species are a national problem; one study estimates they cost the country $21 billion dollars in economic losses annually. That’s why the state is now offering $3.6 million dollars for projects to target invasive species in Michigan

Spotted lanternflies, zebra mussels, and phragmites are just some invasive species in Michigan that pose a threat to the environment, economy, and public health.

The state’s grants encourage efforts to reduce and prevent invasive species from spreading further.

Joanne Foreman is with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. She says proposed projects are ranked on their ability to address the state’s management priorities.

“It's important for us to focus on those battles that we can potentially win, and the most serious threats may be coming to Michigan that affect our agriculture, our forests, our waters, or even human health.”

The deadline to apply for a grant is November 1. The state will also host a webinar series this month on current management efforts - and how communities can aid in the fight against invasive species.

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