Policy direction given in FSM 2903 for management of invasive species across the National Forest System includes the following provisions:
As appropriate, collaborate and coordinate with adjacent landowners and other stakeholders to improve invasive species management effectiveness across the landscape. Encourage cooperative partnerships to address invasive species threats within a broad geographical area.
In view of Forest Service policy and the Service’s National Strategic Framework for Invasive Species Management, program coordinators for invasive plants and/or pesticides in Region 3 should promote and support cooperative efforts with Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) when feasible. CWMAs (or similar entities) are local organizations consisting of land managers, land owners, and other interested parties whose purpose is to facilitate cooperation in managing common weed problems across jurisdictional boundaries within the defined area of the CWMA (see figures 2 and 3 below).
Figure 2. Cooperative Weed Management Areas in Arizona
Figure 3. Cooperative Weed Management Areas in New Mexico
Major CWMA advantages include
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encouraging cooperators to plan for effective weed management across ownership boundaries and to prioritize management efforts;
88.enhancing participation in weed management activities of mapping, planning, monitoring, and treatment of weeds within the CWMA;
89.pooling of talent and resources for weed management; and
90.providing channels of communications between cooperators.
Due to their large land base, forests should be key participants in applicable CWMAs. CWMAs are typically co-located with local Soil and Water Conservation Districts which may be used as a contact. In some cases, CWMAs may be able to help forests develop their own weed management plans. Existing CWMA plans may have already identified priority weed species of local concern and have developed maps of priority areas for treatment. CWMAs may also provide (1) training for local landowners, (2) weed identification publications, and (3) treatment guidance that is specific to local areas. Instructions for setting up CWMAs may be found in the CWMA Cookbook (http://www.fs.fed.us/invasivespecies/documents/cookbook.pdf). An example of cooperative weed management can be found in Idaho’s Strategic Plan for Managing Noxious Weeds (http://www.agri.idaho.gov/Categories/PlantsInsects/NoxiousWeeds/Documents/general/stratplan.pdf).
Guiding principles for participation in Cooperative Weed Management Areas
Region 3 principles for CWMA participation are—
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Forest Service personnel involved with invasive plant management are encouraged to participate in local CWMAs and help initiate CWMAs when applicable.
91.Cooperation with CWMAs by Forest Service participants should be based on a planned process for weed management that employs integrated weed management principles.
92.CWMA activities should be focused on invasive plants that have the greatest potential for impacting resources within the CWMA including NFS lands.
93.Management of invasive plants on NFS lands should be coordinated with CWMA activities whenever possible.
94.Agreements such as cooperative agreements, participating agreements (including Wyden Amendment-based agreements), challenge cost-share agreements, and MOUs should be used between the Forest Service and CWMAs when practical.
Regional cooperation with Cooperative Weed Management Areas
Major objectives for supporting CWMAs in Region 3 include (1) building CWMA capacity, (2) providing technical support, and (3) managing information. Forest Service cooperation with CWMAs in Region 3 should facilitate these objectives. The following actions may be used to help achieve the three objectives.
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Building CWMA capacity: Actions include—
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Conduct outreach efforts to involve as many stakeholders within the CWMA as possible.
95.Hold regular meetings to develop and coordinate CWMA activities.
96.Develop a weed management plan and a timeline for the CWMA to achieve management objectives for targeted invasive weed species across the CWMA.
97.Develop and maintain a list of funding sources for invasive plant control. (See Resources for CWMA development in the following subsection)
98.Seek funding through grants or cost-share agreements for projects that target a select group of critical invasive plant species.
99.Provide information to public on CWMA activities either informally through networking or formally through presentations or posters.
100.Develop “success stories” based upon the successful completion of funded projects and share broadly within the State.
101.Participate in State and national-level organizations for invasive plants/species such as advisory committees, planning committees, exotic plant councils, etc.
102.Providing technical support: Actions include—
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Develop a priority list for targeted invasive species and revise as needed.
103.Provide services for local weed control or by contracting with commercial applicators.
104.Develop EDRR procedures to detect and eradicate newly established invasive plants.
105.Provide training on invasive plant identification and methods for surveying and treatment.
106.Conduct site visits to assess local projects and make recommendations for improvement.
107.Promote pilot projects to develop new strategies and technology for control.
108.Transfer new invasive plant management technology to land managers through websites, presentations, posters, articles, publications, training, etc.
109.Develop or support the development of user-friendly taxonomic keys to aid in field identification of important invasive plant species.
110.Identify “experts” who are able to classify important invasive plant species.
111.Support the development and distribution of high quality digital images of important invasive plants species and “look-alike” species.
112.Support local projects for biological control from their initiation through the release and monitoring phases.
113.Assess the status of current biological control research and evaluate existing programs for potential partnerships.
114.Managing information: Actions include—
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Develop an efficient, user-friendly methodology for inputting field data for purposes of mapping and surveying.
115.Assure that accurate plant distribution data is available and facilitate a process for easily updating information on invasive plant populations.
116.Identify and evaluate existing invasive plant mapping databases to determine which ones best serve the needs of invasive plant managers.
117.Support risk mapping of targeted invasive plants.
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