Thomas Boos

WI DNR, Division of Forestry

Best Management

Practices

for Invasive

Species

Outline

• Best Management

Practices

• Why

• Process

• Examples

• Regulation Connection

• OUTREACH

Acre

s I

nfe

ste

d

Prevention

or

Eradication

simple

Absent or off-site

Era

dic

ati

on

feasib

le

Era

dic

ati

on

un

likely

,

inte

nse e

ffo

rt r

eq

uir

ed

few

locations

Many

locations At or near biological potential

Local control and

management only

Weed Increase Over Time and Control Potential

Co

ntr

ol

Co

sts

Public awareness

typically begins

Introduction

Time

Detection

(1) (3) (4) (2)

Goal of the BMPs

Limit the introduction and spread

of invasive terrestrial plants, insects

and diseases.

Oak wilt

Te

xa

s F

ore

st

Se

rvic

e

Oriental bittersweet Emerald ash borer

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uke.e

du

PREVENTION – not control

FILT

How the BMP process got started

BMPs

Forestry

Urban Forestry Recreational Users

Rights-of-Way

Wisconsin Council on Forestry

Governor’s

Forestry

Conference

Forestry

Loggers, Foresters, Landowners

Recreational Users

Campers, Hikers, ATV riders, Horse riders, Bicyclists, Land Managers, etc.

Urban Forestry

Urban Foresters, Arborists, Nurseries, Landscapers, etc.

Rights of Way

DOT, County/Township Roads Managers, Utilities, etc.

Audiences- Who’s missing?

Teams within the Process

Forestry Invasive Leadership Team

- provided guidance to AC

- met when needed

Advisory Committee

- developed base for each BMPs track

- met every 3 months for 3 years

Technical Team

- legwork

- met each month between AC meetings

Member

overlap

Ecological Restoration Consultants

Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission

Wisconsin Professional Associations

Recreation Organizations

Utility Companies

Non-profits

Wisconsin Landowner Associations

Wisconsin County Associations

UW

UW-Extension

Wisconsin Councils

Wisconsin DNR, DATCP, PSC

Natural Resources Conservation Service

USDA Forest Service

Cities and Towns

Many, many more…

THE CORE- Advisory Committees

How to implement?

New threats mean new adaptations…

Meant to act as a flexible guide -- a list of standards

Thought process

Education and time

Integrate BMPs into normal daily practices

Use existing systems (management plans, surveys,

etc)

No matter where you are…

You are never free from the threat!

Prevention is key to saving on long term

impacts and costs

kudzu Black swallowwort

What do they include?

Chapters Purpose and Scope

Statement

1. Introduction

2. Elements of Invasive Species Management

3. Management Planning

4. Track specific chapters

Appendices 1. Resources

2. Control Methods

3. Species Lists

4. Much more

Example BMP

BMP 4.4: Prior to moving equipment

onto and off of an activity area,

scrape or brush soil and debris from

exterior surfaces, to the extent

practical, to minimize the risk of

transporting propagules.

BMP Structure BMP 4.4: Prior to moving equipment onto and off of an activity

area, scrape or brush soil and debris from exterior surfaces, to the extent practical, to minimize the risk of transporting propagules.

Considerations:

• Foresters, landowners, and loggers may agree to additional cleaning methods.

• Preferred locations for cleaning equipment areas are those where:

• Monitoring can be conducted at a later date, perhaps in conjunction with post-harvest visits. See Chapter 2: Elements of Invasive Species Management for guidance on monitoring for invasives.

• Equipment is unloaded and loaded.

• Invasives are less likely to spread from cleaned equipment.

• Invasive species are already established

• Equipment with the ability to run fans in reverse should use this feature to clean air intakes. Fans and air intakes can harbor plant materials and insects. Reversing the fan direction and blowing loose material out of equipment before leaving a site can reduce the likelihood of moving species to another site. Heat exhausted from the engine when fans are reversed may kill some insects and plant parts.

• In areas where invasive species are present, it is a good practice to routinely remove soil, seeds, vegetative matter, or other debris from shoes, clothing, and tools.

• To reduce need for equipment cleaning, carry out work under conditions that minimize the risk of spread, e.g., frozen ground, snow cover, seed/propagule absence, etc. (See Figure 2 in Chapter 4 and Appendix G at http://council.wisconsinforestry.org/.)

BMP 4.3- Consider the likely response of invasive

species or target species when prescribing activities

that result in soil disturbance or increased sunlight

EXAMPLE

Common Themes in BMPs

Planning

Education

Cleaning

Avoidance

Minimize disturbance

Promote healthy ecosystems/plants

Use clean materials

OUTREACH- the past and present

Presentations for many audiences:

- Loggers, foresters, landowners- Focus on

communication, identification

- Master Gardeners,

- transportation, utilities,

- many recreation groups

Gaps

- reaching unaffiliated landowners

- how to reach users- lack of $$ dictates

sometimes

OUTREACH- the past and present

“I noticed that it often doesn't take much time to do a little control or sale manipulation to prevent a much larger invasive problem down the road (both examples above were done in less than a day by one person).” “Were supposed to do this now and it makes sense to leave the cleaning debris where we got it instead of at the next job site”

OUTREACH

Ch. NR 40 -

Invasive Species

Identification,

Classification and

Control Rules

Prohibited Species – No person may

transport (import/move), possess, transfer (buy/sell) or introduce a prohibited species without a permit.

The department may order or conduct a control

effort.

Restricted Species – No person may

transport (import/move), transfer (buy/sell) or introduce a restricted species without a permit. Restricted fish may not be possessed

Control is encouraged but not required.

Regulatory Activities:

Exceptions:

• The violating action was incidental or unknowing,

and

• The person took “reasonable precautions” to

prevent the action (Transport, introduction, transfer

or possession)

If the Department determines:

*** Reasonable precautions

includes use of approved

Best Management Practices

Process Successes and Failures

Successes

- Motivated and dedicated AC

- Valuable product

Weaknesses

- Objective Statement Changes

- Key Terms

Lessons Learned

- Use of concepts rather than specific

language

- Self Evaluation and fluidity

Final Product

• Intended to be used by other states

as a model.

• Easily adopted and adapted.

• Contacted already by several states,

some choosing to go through own

process.

Outreach- the future

• Important to convince folks of the threat

• Online Forestry BMP training

– Series of Powerpoints with photos and

video.

– Detailed BMP path and example based path

– Accessible by all

• Spread the word!

• Others tracks for more audiences can be

developed if this is successful

For more information:

Best Management Practices:

http://council.wisconsinforestry.org/invasiv

es/

NR 40 – Invasive Species Rule:

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/invasives/classifi

cation

Thomas Boos Forestry, WI DNR

608-266-9276 thomas.boos@wisconsin.gov