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The Florida Invasive Species Partnership (FISP): Invasive Species Know NO Boundaries, Do We? Erin Myers US Fish and Wildlife Service On behalf of the Florida Invasive Species Partnership Scale of the threat in Florida • 1,000 non-native insects in Florida, or 8% of all insects • 122 non-native fish, many of which are predatory • 52 species of non-native amphibians and reptiles, 39 reproducing (<25% of the total) – greatest # in US! • > 50 non-native mammal species, 18 reproducing • > 11 non-native bird species that breed in Florida, 185 non-breeding seasonal birds • 25,000 plants into Florida annually • 1,318 established outside of cultivation, 10% invasive in natural areas Strangers in Paradise, Island Press 1997 No Boundaries! • > 50% of Florida’s 520+ listed plant species are threatened by invasives Invasives cross natural and disturbed sites, public or private Source: K Burks, FNAI Public/Private Partnership Is the Only Way Publicly managed areas 60% of Florida is privately owned If landowners and land managers in Florida wish to achieve longterm success, it is critical to collaborate with all stake holders, focusing on prevention as well as treatment. Becoming F.I.S.P. • 2001 Invasive Species Working Group – Represent federal & state agencies – Create one strategic plan for prevention and management of all biological invasions in Florida – Primarily public lands • 2006 Private Land Incentive Sub-working Group – Target invasive species management on private lands • Assume no “one size fits all” approach will work – Promote partnerships between public land managers, resource managers and private land managers • Coordinate current efforts on public lands with private lands • 2008 The Florida Invasive Species Partnership – Maintain same partnership focus Challenges • Public land managers – Limited funds – Limited staff or authority to “cross the fenceline” – Limited ability to assist their neighbors with invasive species control • Private land managers/Technical service providers – 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 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. FISP Tools • Develop matrix of existing incentive programs that can be used for invasive species control and target the problems on public and private lands. • Establish matrix on a single web site, provide links to specific information to address and resolve the problem. Provide outreach and training to the following audiences: public, private and technical service providers. • Promote partnerships and collaborative efforts to address invasive species on statewide, regional and local levels (e.g., Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs)) • Provide an information clearinghouse for these efforts. Cropping Up in Florida 2007-2009 FISP Accomplishments Outreach • FISP representatives attended 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 • Completed the “Got Invasives?” Factsheet • FISP appeared in multiple publications – Wildland Weeds, Conservation Forestry Handbook, Forest Stewardship Newsletter • Developed FloridaInvasives.org • Hosted monthly Webex for CISMAs – Started summer of 2008 FISP Accomplishments FL Department of Transportation • DOT Voluntary Codes of Conduct – Incorporating the code into DOT statewide policy for roadside landscaping and other related practices – 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) supporting FNAI mapping of DOT borrow pits (July 2009) • DACS Cogongrass Initiative: Plant ID cards FISP Developments • Memorandum of Understanding between all FISP partners • Informational Posters • “In Service” Trainings • FWC-IPMS – Decontamination Protocol for Pesticide Applicators in Florida – Procedures for spraying near organic farms – Homeowner disposal of invasive plants Invasive Species know NO boundaries – Do we? Necessary ingredients for long-term success: • Multiple agencies and organizations in partnership • Involve private landowners and interests • Recognize differences and commonalities in missions • Conservation leverage Key ISTF – Python patrol training COOPERATION is the key to successful, long-term management of invasive plants!