Florida Invasive Species Partnership:

Managing Invasive Species Across Boundaries in Florida

Kristina Serbesoff-King Invasive Species Program Manager

Florida Chapter, The Nature Conservancy-on behalf of Florida Invasive Species Partnership (FISP)

Invasive Species Working Group

• 2001 Invasive Species Working Group– Represent state agencies and other cooperators– Create one strategic plan for prevention and

management of all biological invasions in Florida

• 2005 Private Land Incentive Sub-working Group– Create partnership between public land managers,

resource managers and private land managers– Assume no “one size fits all” approach will work

• 2008 The Florida Invasive Species Partnership– Maintain same partnership focus

Becoming F.I.S.P.

Publicly managed areas

FISP’s Mission - Public/Private Partnership Is the Only Way

Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of partnership approaches to preventing and controlling invasives species through increased communication, coordination and shared resources in order to protect wildlife habitat, working lands, natural communities and biodiversity in Florida.

60% of Florida is privately owned

Challenges

• Public land managers

– Limited funds

– Limited staff or authority to “cross the fenceline”

– Limited ability to assist their neighborswith invasive species control

• Private land incentives administrators

– Provide information about the programs they administer

– Unaware of other options that might be advantageous to the landowner

• Private landowners

– Not receiving all the available information

– Lose interest

FISP mutual agreement

Partners of FISP recognize that if landowners and land managers in Florida wish to achieve long-term success with regards to reducing the threat of invasive, non-native species, it is critical to:

– Reach out and collaborate with all stakeholders, including private landowners.

– Focus on holistic management of invasive species, which includes prevention, early detection/rapid response, control and applied research.

FISP Goals

Think Locally - Act Neighborly

1. Increase effectiveness and decrease costs by working together.

2. Provide tools to develop a unified approach and bridge the gap between landowners’ and land management agency efforts.

3. Encourage development, implementation and sharing of new and innovative approaches.

• Develop and maintain a matrix of existing incentive programs that can be used for invasive species management on public and private lands.

• Establish and maintain an interactive website at www.floridainvasives.org that will host the incentive matrix; provide links to specific information to address and resolve problems in regards to invasive species and serve as a central clearinghouse for invasive species partnership efforts.

• Promote and participate in partnerships and collaborative efforts to address invasive species on statewide, regional and local levels (i.e., Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs).

• Provide targeted outreach and training to foster innovative approaches to invasive species management in Florida.

FISP Objectives

FISP Accomplishments

• FISP represented at over 25 meetings/conferences within Florida and Nationally since 2008 – Receiving increased interest from other agencies such as

National Park Service, US Forest Service, Florida Natural Areas Inventory and others, asking: What can we do?

• Hired FISP database and outreach coordinator– Updates and manages Incentive Program Matrix

• FISP articles written for multiple publications– Wildland Weeds, Conservation Forestry Handbook, Forest

Stewardship Newsletter

• Developed FloridaInvasives.org – hosts the Matrix

• Continuing to foster the development of CISMAs and hosting monthly online meetings for CISMAs

The website

The “Matrix”

Includes federal programs – w/specific information on FloridaF

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Includes non-profit programs

Goal to update quarterly so you contact the right person the 1st time!

FISP Accomplishments

• FDOT Voluntary Codes of Conduct– Increased statewide awareness and understanding of

invasive plants at all levels within DOT• Training on invasive plant identification for employees,

consultants and contractors• Phase out use of FLEPPC Category I and II plants• Encourage plant nurseries to increase availability of non-

invasive plants

– DOT Participates in FISP and CISMAs

• FWC Invasive Plant Management Section (IPMS) provided plant ID decks to FDOT and county DOT (as part of DACS Cogongrass Initiative)

• FWC IPMS supporting FNAI mapping of DOT borrow pits (July 2009)

FISP Developments

• CISMA websites

• Resolution between all FISP partners

• Informational Posters

• “In Service” Trainings

• FWC-IPMS responding to CISMA requests:– Decontamination Protocol for

Pesticide Applicators in Florida

– Procedures for spraying near organic farms

– Homeowner disposal of invasive plants

a partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies, tribes, individuals and various interested groups that manage invasive species in a defined area

Crossing Boundaries, Meeting ChallengesCooperative Invasive Spp. Management Areas

CISMAs

Everglades CISMA – Joint Work Day

Cropping Up in Florida 2007-2009

Timeline:

• CISMAs to have website content info submitted end of March 09

• CISMA websites up by June 09

• “How to Create a CISMA Website” guide completed end of 2009 w/downloadable template

Creating Websites for CISMAs in Florida

• Multiple agencies and organizations in partnership

• Involve private landowners and interests

• Recognize differences and commonalities in missions

• Conservation leverage

COOPERATION is the key to successful, long-term management of invasive species!

Invasive Species know NO boundaries – Do we?

Necessary ingredients for long-term success:

Key ISTF – Python patrol training