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 Nature Conservancy received funding through the Department of Defense (DoD) Legacy Program to initiate a CISMA in the Western Panhandle of Florida and organized the inaugural meeting of The Six Rivers Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area on October 14th, 2009. The meeting was attended by representatives from 19 agencies and local governments. The representatives voted on CISMA boundaries which include Escambia County, Holmes County, Okaloosa County, Santa Rosa County, Walton County, and Washington County. Attendees identified a number of benefits of developing a CISMA in the region, including the ability to assess problems on a landscape scale; allow for treatment across property boundaries; cooperate in invasive species treatments; cooperate in leveraging funding; assist private landowners in removing invasive species; reduce the high maintenance cost caused by invasive species re-infestations; identify research ideas and leverage research funding; expand public awareness of invasive species; provide agency invasive species points of contacts, and provide knowledge of what agencies are doing to manage invasive species.

Co-Chairs:
Rick O’Connor
Florida Sea Grant
UF IFAS Extension
Roc1@ufl.edu

Kristal Walsh
Office of Conservation Planning Services
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Kristal.Walsh@MyFWC.com