Under Executive Order 13112, an invasive species is defined as “an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” Policy in Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2900 - INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT states that all US Forest Service (USFS) management activities must be designed to minimize or eliminate the possibility of establishment or spread of invasive species on the National Forest System (NFS) or to adjacent areas. FSM 2903 stipulates that actions must be initiated, coordinated, and sustained to (1) prevent, control, and eliminate priority infestations of invasive species in aquatic and terrestrial areas of the NFS by using an integrated
pest management approach, and (2) collaborate with stakeholders to implement cooperative invasive species management activities in accordance with law and policy. When applicable, invasive species management actions and standards must also be incorporated into resource management plans at the forest level, and in programmatic environmental planning and assessment documents at the Regional or national levels (FSM 2903).
This guidance is intended to assist USFS invasive species and/or pesticide-use coordinators in the Forest Service’s Southwestern Region (Region 3) who are responsible for invasive species management on NFS lands. It may also be used by personnel in other USFS programs or agencies for planning purposes. Due to the extensive presence of invasive weeds in Region 3, the principal focus of the guidance is on invasive weed management; however, other invasive species currently found in the Region are also addressed. The guidance will be updated as necessary in the future. The Regional Invasive Species/Pesticide Coordinator in Albuquerque may be contacted at (505) 842-3280 for information pertaining to this guidance. Additional sources of information for Forest Service management of invasive species include—
National direction for invasive species management:
FSM 2900 and FSH (Forest Service Handbook – in preparation)
National direction for pesticide use:
FSM 2150 and FSH 2109
Forest Service programs for invasive species:
http://www.fs.fed.us/invasivespecies/index.shtml
http://wwwdev1.phe.fs.fed.us/science-technology/invasive-species-pests-disease
Region 3 website for invasive species:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r3/forest-grasslandhealth/invasivespecies
Overall priorities for managing invasive species in Region 3 include these action items:
1.Maintain a cadre of trained coordinators and applicators sufficient for invasive species management and pesticide use across all national forests and grasslands.
2.Complete inventories of invasive species and increase the number of treated/monitored acres relative to meeting stated treatment goals and objectives for these species.
3.Develop weed management plans and implement treatment projects that can eradicate, contain, and/or control prioritized invasive weeds in accordance with forest planning for watershed restoration, desired conditions, and other resource-related management goals.
4.Establish or support Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) or similar organizations as appropriate to address invasive weed management on all NFS lands as well as neighboring lands.
5.Cooperate with other agencies and governments in supporting successful management programs for invasive species.
6.Increase partnerships through outside partnership agreements and funding to maximize effectiveness and efficiency of treatment projects on priority landscapes.
7.Reduce the number of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems at risk through education and prevention activities.
Responsibility for management of invasive species on NFS lands is shared between invasive species coordinators and personnel from associated programs such as wildlife biologists, fishery biologists, wilderness specialists, etc. Technical assistance for treating certain invasive species with pesticides may be provided by pesticide-use coordinators. Although invasive species coordinators are primarily responsible for invasive
plant management on NFS lands, personnel designated as invasive species coordinators are also expected to serve as overall coordinators across all taxa of invasive species. Depending on level of expertise, specialists from other Forest Service programs may have the lead for management of certain invasive species such as management of invasive aquatic and terrestrial animal species by wildlife biologists. In addition to native forest pests, the Region’s Forest Health Protection (FHP) program is responsible for survey and monitoring of invasive forest pathogens and insects.
Forest Invasive Species Coordinators
The Forest Invasive Species Coordinator has lead responsibility for coordinating management activities for invasive species on the forest. These responsibilities include—
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Implementing measures associated with invasive species management in forest plans and other resource management and project-level plans.
8.Collecting and reporting information related to
invasive species infestations, impacts, and management activities occurring on NFS lands. This includes reporting all invasive species survey, inventory, and treatment activities for the forest into the FACTS database of record by using the required TESP-IS (Threatened, Endangered, &
Sensitive Plants, and Invasive Species) software application.
9.Developing and updating as necessary priority invasive plant lists and weed management plans that can be used to implement management strategies for eradication, containment, or control of invasive species.
10.Developing and prioritizing treatment projects for invasive plants and, as appropriate, applying these projects to overall forest goals of watershed restoration, desired conditions, or wilderness stewardship.
11.Ensuring that at least 50 percent of acres treated annually on the forest are monitored.
12.Preparing or supporting district preparation of an annual budget to incorporate invasive species management in all priority forest or district restoration projects and submitting it during the budget cycle.
13.Developing and managing annual forest WorkPlan for invasive species program management.
14.Coordinating with Forest Service leadership, other Forest Service program areas, State and local agencies, tribes, and landowners in control and restoration efforts associated with invasive species management.
15.Maintaining working relationships with committees, districts, boards, and other organizations at the State or local level that are involved with managing invasive species.
