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Upland Invasive Exotic Plant Management on Florida Public Lands

The Department of Environmental Protection's Division of State Lands manages the Bureau of Invasive Plant Management to control invasive species on 13 million acres of public conservation lands in Florida. With an estimated 125 invasive species found on public lands, the Division is mandated to keep invasive plants at the lowest feasible level. This is achieved through regional working groups, cooperation, collaboration, and communication. The Division provides funding criteria, contracts with regional contractors, and implements management strategies to control invasive plants such as climbing ferns (Lygodium species), melaleuca, and Brazilian pepper.

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Upland Invasive Exotic Plant Management on Florida Public Lands

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  1. Department of Environmental Protection Division of State Lands Bureau of Invasive Plant Management Upland Invasive Exotic Plant Management

  2. Upland Invasive Exotic Plants on Florida Public Lands 13 million acres of public conservation lands 125 invasive species found on public lands 15% estimated infested legislative mandate to keep invasive plants at lowest feasible level – “maintenance” (369.252, FS) many impossible to eradicate

  3. Regional Working Groups • PLACE- BASED MANAGEMENT • Cooperation • Collaboration • Communication • 11 regions • 540 participants • 27 federal 71 local • 87 state 44 NGO

  4. I n v a s i v e U p l a n d P l a n t Regional Working Groups • DEP PROJECT FUNDING CRITERIA • Publicly owned conservation lands only • Cost-share/matching funds available ($28million in cost share to date) • Target species with high invasiveness • Current control technologies available • Benefit listed (T&E) species • Perpetual site management

  5. I n v a s i v e U p l a n d P l a n t Regional Contractors • DEP has established service contracts with regional invasive plant control contractors (11), as well as 16 Local Gov’t contracts to further expand workforce. • The contractors are supervised by the land manager and paid directly by DEP • All ground crew supervisors to be FDACS certified in Natural Areas category • Yields a labor force of 300+

  6. I n v a s i v e U p l a n d P l a n t Regional Contractors Region VII Keys

  7. LYGODIUM STRIKE TEAM 10 ACRES OR LESS ON PCL’S Mr. Andrew Leslie Bureau coordinator (850)-245-2822 or by e-mail at: Drew.Leslie@dep.state.fl.us

  8. CLIMBING FERNS (Lygodium species) • Estimated 250,000 AC pre-04 hurricanes • Airborne spores spread statewide • 1998-2005 11,615 AC controlled (5% of total) • BIPM started ‘Strike Team’ 2004

  9. What unmanaged Lygodium is doing to Everglades tree islands

  10. HERBICIDEBANK • Management Unit Name • Delivery Address • Description of Project Site • List herbicide/adjuvants and quantities you need • Complete DPR to document how & when material was utilized. • $750,000 & 170+ land management units served!!!!

  11. I n v a s i v e U p l a n d P l a n t Management Strategies Melaleuca Program 206.1(a) Florida Statute “… the department shall allocate at least $1 million … to the eradication of melaleuca

  12. MELALEUCA • 1993 – 50% of melaleuca on public lands • 2007 – 15% of melaleuca on public lands • Lake O – 20,000 acres infestation 1997 WCA ‘S – 690,000 total acres Big Cypress NP- 80,000 acres Everglades NP, Pennsucco, Estero Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Fakahatchee…. Over 1 MILLION acres under Maintenance

  13. PROJECT EX-LOX • Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge (120,000 ac) • 90,000 acres Melaleuca- largest contiguous stand remaining in the northern hemisphere • Extensive Lygodium infestation • Aerial Melaleuca completed; lygodium underway. • Ground crew ops will resume upon water levels restored.

  14. BRAZILIAN PEPPER • 1 Million + acres on public • Conservation lands 2005 • Dense thickets exclude wildlife, alter fire regimes • 1998 – 2007 277,611 AC • controlled (22.5% of total)

  15. BIPM Funding Everglades CISMA Area 1997-2007 28 Projects $14.1M 207,000 acres (48% of SE & SW Funding) 2006-2007 4 Projects $5.2M 45,319 acres

  16. Public/Private Partnerships • USFWS- Partners for Wildlife- funding for adjacent private lands: 78 agreements • N.P.S.- Florida/ Caribbean Exotics Team • T.A.M.E. Melaleuca • USDA- biocontrol dissemination • NRCS- Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) • ISWG- Private/Public Funding Matrix

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