Marion County Invasive Species Management Council Linda Duever, Coordinator...

Marion County Invasive Species Management Council

Linda Duever, [email protected]

http://www.mcismc.org

ORGANIZING TO

COMBAT COGONGRASS AT THE

COUNTY LEVEL

In the West, invasives control programs are typically managed through stakeholder coalitions called Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs).

A CWMA is defined as:

“A partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies; tribes; individuals; and various interested groups that manage noxious weeds or invasive plants in a defined area.”

A CWMA…

represents a defined geographic area

involves the majority of landowners and resource managers

is headed by a steering committee

is committed to cooperation

operates under a comprehensive strategic plan that stresses IPM-based approaches


http://www.mcismc.orgLinda Duever, Coordinator [email protected]

The Marion County Invasive Species Management Council is the first attempt to apply the CWMA approach to invasives management in Florida.

MCISMC was formed in 2006 with a $12,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Pulling Together Initiative. The county serves as the fiscal manager and a contracted consultant acts as coordinator.




• Group Organization

• Cogongrass Mapping

• Strategic Plan Development

Year One Pulling Together Initiative

NFWF Grant




CWMA Establishment Strategy

• Focus on the worst problem

• Actively seek broad involvement, but

• Postpone formalities

• Minimize time commitments

• Emphasize strategy development

• Prioritize websites

MCISMC Partners Alachua Conservation Trust BASF CorporationBugwood Network City of Ocala Clay Electric Cooperative Conway Conservation [link to new address] Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway Florida Bureau of Invasive Plant ManagementFlorida Department of Transportation Florida Division of Forestry Florida Division of Plant Industry Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Florida Federation of Garden Clubs Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Native Plant Society Florida Natural Areas Inventory Florida Office of Greenways and TrailsFlorida Park Service Florida Uplands NetworkInfrastructure Corporation of America International Property ServicesLewis Environmental Services Marion County Audubon SocietyMarion County Extension Service Marion County Information Systems DepartmentMarion County Parks and Recreation Department Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District Marion County Transportation Department Mockernut Hill Botanical Institute On Top of the WorldPlum Creek Timber Progress Energy Putnam County Environmental Coalition Rayonier Save Our Big Scrub Society for Range Management, Florida SectionSouthwest Florida Water Management District St. Johns River Water Management District Sumter Electric CooperativeThe Nature Conservancy USDA Forest Service USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida Levin College of Law Conservation Clinic

Cogongrass GPS Points mapped by

Marion County Transportation Department

MCISMC’s Cogongrass Control Strategy


• Geographic• Wildfire - Bull’s Eye• County Boundaries - Natural Barriers• Divide and Conquer

• Biological• Right Herbicide - Right Time• Starve the Roots• Commitment and Persistence

• Social• The War Game• Websites • Grassroots Territories




• A good website is critical!

• Work with the strengths and weaknesses of the people you have.

• Strategy, Strategy, Strategy

Lessons LearnedYear One

Marion County Invasive Species Management Council Linda Duever, Coordinator...

Documents

Transcript of Marion County Invasive Species Management Council Linda Duever, Coordinator...