A new state office dedicated to fighting invasive species is a good step forward in protecting the environment.

Under the direction of the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Office of Invasive Species will be charged with investigating threats to native ecosystems from plants and animals.

In this area, we've seen the problems that Eurasian watermilfoil, Japanese knotweed and other aquatic plants can cause.

These invaders crowd out plants native to the area and grow so rapidly that waterways can become clogged with them, ruining sports, recreation and aesthetics.

In many communities, volunteers have taken to pulling out the unwanted plants by hand, and in Skaneateles, the problem has gotten so bad that a nonprofit entity, the Skaneateles Lake Milfoil Eradication Corp., has been established to direct those efforts.

In addition to aquatic problems, the new agency will address problems like the Sirex woodwasp, a pine-tree killing wasp native to other parts of the world that has been found to have moved into many areas of the state - including central New York.

In addition to prevention, fast identification and rapid eradication of invasive species will be the new agency's primary goals.

It's good to see the state step up to take some of the responsibility, rather than leaving it all up to the local municipalities, which might not have the same access to experts.

The Office of Invasive Species will include biologists and foresters, and work in concert with universities, nonprofits and other state agencies to coordinate efforts statewide.

We hope a coordinated effort will yield better results and direct resources where they're needed the most.