Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds

The Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic weeds (FICMNEW) represents an unprecedented formal partnership between 18 federal agencies with direct invasive plant management and regulatory responsibilities spanning across the United States and territories. FICMNEW was established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by agency leadership in 1994 and 1997. It is currently co-chaired by DOI-BLM (Seth Flanigan) and USDA-NRCS (Chris Taliga). See a printable flyer and learn more about FICMNEW Factsheet [PDF, 657 KB].

During quarterly open meetings, FICMNEW members interact on important national and regional invasive plant issues and share information with various public and private organizations participating with the federal sector to address invasive plant issues.

FICMNEW's charter directs the committee to coordinate, through the respective Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and Agency heads, information regarding the identification and extent of invasive plants in the U.S. and to coordinate federal agency management of these species. FICMNEW accomplishes these portions of its charter by developing and sharing scientific and technical information, fostering collaborative efforts among federal agencies, providing recommendations for national and regional level management of invasive plants, and sponsoring technical/educational conferences and workshops concerning invasive plants.

FICMNEW continues to bridge the gap between federal agency invasive plant management and science activities and has been a driving force behind the national emphasis against the broader invasive species threat.

Next Open Meeting

• Date/Time: April 24, 2025, 1-2:30 pm (Eastern Standard Time)
• Speaker/Topic: Dr. Stanley W. Burgiel (“Stas”), “The National Invasive Species Council and the 2025 North American Invasive Species Forum”
• Speaker Biography: Stas, executive director of the National Invasive Species Council (NISC), facilitates high-level policy dialogue across the Federal government on invasive species.
• Overview: Stas, will provide a review of his work with NISC and his past work with the North American Invasive Species Forum, including his presentation on invasive species international frameworks at the 2025 forum May 13th-May 16, 2025.
• Meeting location and call-in information: The meeting will be held virtually. Call in instructions will be sent via email. Please email Seth Flanigan (sflanigan{at}blm.gov) if you are not on the electronic list and would like to receive a meeting invitation.