About Central Florida Invasive Species Working Group
The Central Florida Invasive Species Working Group is to create a partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies, individuals, and various interested groups, that develop resources, educate, and share information to manage invasive species in a specified area.
Committees
Steering Committee
- Develops and presents recommendations for larger membership, incorporates their feed-back and oversees implementation
- Gathers data for website
- Develops annual report?
- Develops strategic plan and develops annual operating plans with input from CISMA membership. (Possibly future Operations Subcommittee?)
Education Subcommittee
(Things we want to do outside our working group; ~ outreach)
- Support and promote Invasive Species Awareness events at local, state and federal level
- Develop educational materials on invasive species for grade school classes in the area
- Create “Most Wanted” posters; work with Prevention Subcommittee to have call numbers on the posters
- Work with media and newsletters to broadcast accomplishments
- Consider other resources for information dissemination:
- Public Park Entrances and Visitor Centers
- Forest Service and BLM Offices
- Campfire and Trail Programs
- County Cooperative Extension Offices
- Area Chambers of Commerce
- Local Tours
- Local Environmental Organizations
- Local Wildlife Organizations
- Schools and Service Organizations
- County Fairs and Trade Shows
- Write articles about focus invasive plant or any species, CFISWG, etc., for magazines & newspapers
Workshops Subcommittee
- Set up workshops – could serve as delegator for ad hoc groups for each workshop? Some workshop ideas (also consider animals?): Contractor issues – for clients and contractors; Decontamination – equipment cleaning, boot brush stations, etc.; WRA – introduce concept of Weed Risk Assessment; Long-term monitoring training – tips & tricks to get info needed for less money & time; weed identification class for landowners and land managers
- Works with other Subcommittees for “rewards” or “prizes” for workshops, work days, etc.
- Provide CEU opportunities for all workshops where possible
Prevention/Early Detection Subcommittee
- Sets up a system for responding to new invasion sites using partner resources ~ creating SWAT team. Establish a communication network for the team, assemble control tools and supplies, designate a person to handle landowner contacts and permission to treat, and have certified herbicide applicators conduct the treatments. (Where do critters fit in with this?)
- Sets up monitoring projects, protocols
- Sets up protocol, placements of “Boot brush” and other decontamination stations
- Promote data exchange on ISWG website
- Sets up system for Weed Risk Assessments
Work Days Subcommittee
- Provides central person to coordinate all activities to carry out a successful workday
- Creates roster of places/projects
- Works with Ed Subcommittee to get the word out about a workday
- Looks for ways to involve private landowners
Finance Subcommittee
- Researches grants potentials; builds calendar of RFP deadlines
- Sets up in-kind reporting forms – hours at workdays, etc.
- Puts together treatment expenses analyses?
Applicator/Research Subcommittee
- Keeps up with treatment findings; works with Ed Committee/workshop ad hoc committees to get findings presented
- Keeps up with contracting issues; works with Ed Committee/workshop ad hoc committees to get findings presented
- Works with Workshop Subcommittee for certification CEUs?
- Identifies management related research needs/gaps; Provides technical support/guidance to involved research groups.
Membership
Steering Committee Members Include:
Seminole and Orange Counties, DOF, UCF, DEP, IFAS, TNC
General Membership:
Seminole County, Orange County (a variety of departments), DOF, UCF, DEP (different divisions), IFAS, TNC, USFWS, FWC, SJRWMD, UF, Valencia Community College, OUC, Progress Energy, RC&D, USDA, City of Winter Springs, City of Altamonte, Deseret Ranch, Volusia County, USGS, City of Maitland, Rollins College, City of Orlando, FDOT, Disney.
Distribution List Name: CFISWG