Established in October 2009 to facilitate a network for land managers to address the growing threat of invasive non-native species in northwest Florida. This effort is built on the success of the Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership (GCPEP). The GCPEP invasives sub-working group identified formation of a CWMA/CISMA as a priority for addressing invasive species threats because it will provide the ability to work on issues outside the existing partnership boundaries.

The Mission of the Big Scrub Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area is to establish a cooperative framework for agencies, private landowners and other land managers to address the threats of invasive species in Lake and Marion Counties through the following:

• Organizing educational workshops to provide information and/or continuing education credits (CEUs);
• Developing educational brochures and materials,
• Sharing resources including, but not limited to strategies, techniques, equipment and personnel;
• Providing opportunities for CISMA members to interact with the public at different events;
• CISMA-wide workdays to search for and/or manage invasive species; and
• Providing information for the Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) database.

Big Scrub CISMA was formed in August 4, 2016.

Chair:
Liz Ramirez
Elizabeth.M.Ramirez@USDA.GOV