Definitions

§ 9-1703. Definitions.

As used in this title:

1. "Advisory committee" means the New York invasive species advisory committee established by section 9-1707 of this title.

2. "Council" means the New York invasive species council established by section 9-1705 of this title.

3. "Control" means, as appropriate, eradicating, suppressing, reducing, or managing invasive species populations, preventing spread of invasive species from areas where they are present, and taking steps such as restoration of native species and habitats to reduce the effects of invasive species and to prevent further invasions.

4. "Ecosystem" means the complex of a community of organisms and its environment.

5. "Introduction" means the intentional or unintentional escape, release, dissemination, or placement of a species into an ecosystem as a result of human activity.

6. "Native species" means, with respect to a particular ecosystem, a species that, other than as a result of an introduction, historically occurred or currently occurs in that ecosystem.

7. "Species" means a group of organisms all of which have a high degree of physical and genetic similarity, generally interbreed only among themselves, and show persistent differences from members of allied groups of organisms.

8. "Plan" means the plan developed pursuant to section 9-1705 of this title.

9. "GIS" means geographic information system.

10. "Invasive species" means a species that is:

(a) nonnative to the ecosystem under consideration; and

(b) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. For the purposes of this paragraph, the harm must significantly outweigh any benefits.