Finally, it is worth remembering the words of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, that the only constant is change. There is no question that the Adirondack State Park of 2100 will be a different place than it is today. The question is the rate of change. Disturbance tends to increase invasion rates and frequencies. Ecosystems weakened by disturbance are overwhelmed by high invasion rates and frequencies.
Control requires both management and understanding.
The former is accomplished by developing effective and far-reaching policies. The latter is accomplished by scientific research. What we will accomplish will be to turn over management of biological invasions to the park's ecosystems. If we protect the borders and the surrounding landscape, we will help to slow the rate and frequency of invasions. The ecosystem, I submit, will be prove surprisingly effective at relegating potentially invasive species to minor status within any community they penetrate.