Long Island Invasive Species Management Area

What Long Island Invasive Species Management Area does

LIISMA (Long Island Invasive Species Management Area) is a New York State-designated nonprofit Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM), founded in 2001 and serving Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. The organization's mission is to reduce the threat of invasive species to regional biodiversity, habitats, agriculture, recreation, and human health through biodiversity conservation, partnership coordination, and proactive early-detection management. LIISMA convenes federal, state, county, municipal, academic, and nonprofit stakeholders, and trains hundreds of community volunteers, to identify, report, and control terrestrial and aquatic invasive plants, animals, insects, and pathogens.

LIISMA's core offerings include the Invasive Species Spotters volunteer training program, the Long Island Metro Aquatic Invasive Species (LIMAIS) task force, region-specific tier lists and invasive species prevention zone designations, an interactive Waterbody Prioritization Map, an educational resource library (fact sheets, quizzes, management guides, legislation resources), and direct technical assistance to land managers and partner organizations. The organization does not develop proprietary software; its technology infrastructure is built on third-party platforms — iNaturalist and iMapInvasives for species identification and tracking, Esri Survey123 for structured field reporting, ArcGIS Web Apps for prioritization visualization, and Chronolog for repeat photo monitoring.

The organization's revenue model is grant-funded: primary support flows from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund as administered by NYSDEC, with supplemental grants such as the NYSDEC Regenerate New York Forestry Cost Share program. Services — including technical assistance, volunteer training, educational materials, and partner coordination — are provided free of charge to government partners, landowners, land managers, volunteers, and the general public. LIISMA operates with a core team of fewer than 10 staff from offices on the Sisters of St. Joseph Brentwood campus in Brentwood, New York.

Name

Long Island Invasive Species Management Area

Legal name

Long Island Invasive Species Management Area

Website

https://liisma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LIISMA is a New York State-funded nonprofit PRISM coordinating invasive species prevention, early detection, and management across Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island via volunteer programs, a multi-agency aquatic task force, and curated regional data products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Environment, Climate & Sustainable Development IGOs (BPADAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Forest Management & Silviculture Services (Cruising, Planning, Compliance) (IMAMAAAD)

Keywords

• Invasive species management
• Habitat conservation services
• Citizen science training
• Ecological restoration services
• Aquatic invasive species

Headquarters

HQ city

Brentwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding provided by the Environmental Protection Fund as administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Additional grants include NYSDEC Regenerate New York Forestry Cost Share Grants for restoration and reforestation projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

LIISMA is a nonprofit regional partnership organization (PRISM) that coordinates invasive species prevention, early detection, rapid response, and management across Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. It delivers free technical assistance, volunteer training, public education, partner coordination through the LIMAIS task force, and tier-based species and waterbody prioritization to federal, state, county, and municipal agencies, nonprofit land managers, and community volunteers.

Product overview

LIISMA operates as a regional management organization (PRISM) focused on invasive species prevention and management across Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. The organization offers community programs like the Invasive Species Spotters volunteer training initiative, manages the LIMAIS aquatic invasive species task force, and provides educational resources including species fact sheets, quizzes, management guides, and legislative resources. Their work centers on early detection and rapid response, partner coordination, and public outreach rather than a software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Invasive Species Spotters Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 521 observations, 251 species, 28 observers, 89 identifiers during 2024 NYISAW BioBlitz
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder and key partner in invasive species management. NYSDEC provides funding through the Environmental Protection Fund and collaborates on aquatic invasive species management through LIMAIS task force and specific projects including Ludwigia peploides monitoring and control on the Peconic River.
• NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIMAIS task force member involved in aquatic invasive species management, boat steward coverage, and conservation area protection including Hither Hills Complex.
• USGSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIMAIS task force member contributing scientific expertise to aquatic invasive species monitoring and management.
• USFWScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIMAIS task force member. USFWS hosts informational tabling sessions, guided nature walks, and volunteer workdays at national wildlife refuges including Seatuck, Elizabeth A. Morton, Target Rock, and Wertheim NWRs.
• Suffolk County ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIMAIS task force member involved in aquatic invasive species management and conservation area stewardship.
• NYC ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIMAIS task force member collaborating on invasive species management at city parks including Kissena Park and Wolfes Pond Park in Staten Island.
• State University of New York at Stony BrooksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIMAIS task force member contributing academic expertise to invasive species research and management.
• Peconic Estuary ProgramsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIMAIS task force member focused on protecting the Peconic River and estuary from aquatic invasive species.
• GEI ConsultantssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLIMAIS task force member providing environmental consulting services for invasive species management projects.
• SOLitude Lake ManagementsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLIMAIS task force member and lake management consultant providing invasive species management services.
• NY Sea GrantsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIMAIS task force member providing marine and coastal resources extension services.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with LIISMA, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and the nursery industry to develop Do Not Sell lists for prohibited invasive plants. The Nature Conservancy chairs the LIISMA Scientific Review Committee.
• Sisters of St. Joseph BrentwoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost LIISMA offices on their 212-acre Brentwood campus. Received NYSDEC Regenerate New York grant for reforestation and invasive species management on 11.4 acres including control of tree of heaven and other invasive species.
• Caumsett FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with NY State Parks to manage invasive species at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve including hardy kiwi (Tier 2), winter honeysuckle, and porcelain berry. Foundation is 100% volunteer-run and recognized as a model friends group.
• Peconic Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1983, has conserved nearly 14,000 acres. LIISMA provides resources including site visits, staff trainings, and management plans for preserves such as Nissequogue, Broad Cove, Wolf/Reese Preserves, and Shinnecock Hills.
• North Shore Land AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hosting volunteer events for invasive species removal including parrot's feather at Williams Ridge Pond and mile-a-minute at Cushman Woods Preserve. LIISMA provided invasive species training to staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Seatuck Environmental AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinuing restoration of West Brook tributary of Connetquot River, preventing invasive phragmites from overtaking the site. Hundreds of volunteers have joined the effort since 2019.
• Long Island National Wildlife Refuge ComplexsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffered variety of NYISAW activities including volunteer workday at Seatuck NWR, informational tabling sessions, and guided nature walks across multiple refuges.
• Lower Hudson PRISMsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIMAIS task force member and part of the NY PRISM Network collaboration.
• Van Cortlandt Park AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIMAIS task force member focused on invasive species management in the Van Cortlandt Park area.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Peconic Land Trust: Long Island-based land trust conserving nearly 14,000 acres; a direct LIISMA partner that engages LIISMA for invasive species management on its preserves, reflecting a closely related regional conservation mission.

Direct peers

• Finger Lakes PRISM: PRISM covering the Finger Lakes region within the NYS PRISM Network, performing parallel invasive species prevention, education, and partner coordination work.
• Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP): Catskill-region PRISM in the NYS PRISM Network, executing the same Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management framework as LIISMA.
• Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP): Fellow New York State PRISM serving the Adirondack region with the same Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management model, coordinating invasive species prevention, education, and partner management.
• Western NY PRISM: Western New York PRISM applying the same statewide Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management approach to invasive species in its region.
• Lower Hudson PRISM: Sister PRISM in the NYS PRISM Network serving the Lower Hudson Valley, operating the same regional partnership and citizen-science model as LIISMA.
• Capital Mohawk PRISM: PRISM serving New York's Capital Region with the same regional invasive species coordination mandate, education programs, and volunteer engagement model.
• St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario (SLELO) PRISM: Another NYS PRISM Network partner serving the St. Lawrence/Eastern Lake Ontario region with parallel invasive species coordination, volunteer training, and partner programs.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (New York): Major national conservation nonprofit operating in New York; chairs LIISMA's Scientific Review Committee and collaborates on Do Not Sell invasive plant lists, with overlapping conservation objectives and broader programmatic scope.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC): Primary funder and overarching state regulator for LIISMA; NYSDEC administers the Environmental Protection Fund and manages invasive species policy across New York at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8xmLDayv_AmWpuR-BdSt1Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/LIISMAPRISM
• Instagraminstagram.com/liisma_prism
• TikToktiktok.com/@liisma_prism?lang=en
• Xx.com/LIISMA_PRISM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/long-island-invasive-species-management-area-liisma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Long Island Invasive Species Management Area