Babcock Ranch Community Invasive Species Integrated Management

Transcription

1 Babcock Ranch Community Invasive Species Integrated Management Creating Lower Maintenance, Costeffective Land Management

2 Babcock Ranch Location Charlotte & Lee County 91,361-acres 73,575-acres public ownership 17,787-acre private ownership Adjacent to Babcock Cecil-Webb WMA Adjacent to dozens of other conservation lands

3 Babcock Ranch History 1930 Fred C. Babcock began sustainable ranching practices 2006 Kitson and Partners purchased 91,361-acre parcel 2006 Public purchase of 73,575-acres Remains a working ranch Some practices eliminated Greater focus on conservation 2011 Babcock Invasive Assessment and Recommendations written 2012 Forestry Technician hired through USFWS funding

4 Invasive Assessment Reviewing Existing Practices Reviewed ranch operations and goals Compiled a list of stakeholders Interviewed staff Documented current treatment species Documented treatment methodologies Chemicals Timing Technique Inventory of treatment equipment Conducted on rotational/seasonal basis Burning/planting/treatment Limited land management staff Ranch Maintenance conducted by small shop crew Leases & Activities Silviculture Apiary Hunting leases Cattle Agriculture Ecotourism

5 Invasive Assessment Reviewing Existing Practices Brought all available data into GIS Over a decade of burn and invasive treatment data Roads Invasive plant locations Fire breaks Listed animal species Land use Surveys to identify problematic species and areas

6 Fundamentals of Invasive Species Management Important Points All management can result in unexpected shifts incorporate adaptive management into every plan No single strategy will resolve the invasive species problem incorporate integrated management Successful programs follow an integrated adaptive management strategy based on defined goals of an area invasive species that interfere with goals are identified, prioritized, and addressed. Fundamental Building Blocks Prevention Early Detection Control Restoration Supporting Components Research Education Monitoring Organizational Collaboration

7 Prevention Management solutions for invasive species will not become evident until the common pathway and vectors are identified ² Components of Introduction Pathways and Vectors Roads and Maintenance Agricultural Operations Silviculture Prescribed Burning Wildfire Control Efforts ² Lodge, et. al Biological invasions: recommendations for US policy and management. Ecological Applications. 16:

8 Prevention Management solutions for invasive species will not become evident until the common pathway and vectors are identified ² Components of Introduction Pathways and Vectors Roads and Maintenance Agricultural Operations Silviculture Prescribed Burning Wildfire Control Efforts Treating invasive before maintenance Maintaining invasive free ROW and Farm Shops Reducing heavy equipment access to natural areas Selecting invasive free loading areas Pre-treating skid trails Timing treatments with prescribed burning Surveying and mapping invasives prior to burning Identifying high risk areas and maintaining invasive free ² Lodge, et. al Biological invasions: recommendations for US policy and management. Ecological Applications. 16:

9 Early Detection Rapid Response Customizing your EDRR Priority EDRR Species Identification Material Network of Observant People Reporting System Rapid Response Team

10 Invasive Control Maximizing Effectiveness Priority Treatment Species Important to understand species biology Staff time and resources Important to understand tools at your disposal Prioritizing infestations for treatment Treatment timing Treatment methodology Integrating management Babcock Ranch Preserve - Treatment Prioritization Ranking Small infestation with no adjacent infestations 4 Small infestation with some small adjacent Size of infestation Previous Exotic Treatment Practices infestations 3 Many small infestations, not yet monoculture 2 Species Methodology Herbicide Large monoculture infestation 1 Melaleuca Cut Stump Imazapyr Hub location (e.g. equipment storage facility) 10 Thistle Foliar Spray Glyphosate Location Risk of Infestation Tropical soda apple High risk linear pathway (e.g. roadway with Foliar Spray Triclopyr regular traffic/grading; ROW with mowing) 5 Brazilian pepper Located within relatively pristine area Foliar Spray Triclopyr 5 Cogongrass Planned or recent controlled burn (within 6 2 mos.) Foliar Spray Glyphosate Management History No previous treatments 0 1 previous treatment (within 6 mos to 1 year) 1 2 previous treatments (consecutive Current Exotic Treatment Practices treatments considered within 1-2 years of 150-gallon eachother) and 136-gallon tank Species Methodology Herbicide >2 previous treatments (see prevoius criteria Chainsaw for and treatment spray timing) bottles cogongrass foliar 2% Glyphosate/.25% Imazapyr Management activity conducsive to lygodium foliar/poodle spreading cut 4% Glyphosate melaleuca cut stump Imazapyr Brazilian pepper Basal bark 10-15% Triclopyr thistle foliar Aminopyralid Species Biology/Priority Category I species not common within BRP (EDRR) Category II species not common within BRP (EDRR 2nd priority) BRP priority species soda apple foliar Aminopyralid Species will have significant impact on revenue generating activity point based on rank (e.g. cogon - 5 b/c priority one) Yes - 10; Moderate - 5; No - 0

11 Acknowledgements Kitson and Partners U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Forest Service USDA Agricultural Service Invasive Plant Research Lab Many staff and stakeholders that have voluntarily participated in Babcock invasive management

12 Through a clear understanding of what factors play a role in the proliferation of invasive species, relative to local operations and the development of an adaptive integrated management approach, the issue of invasive species can be minimized.¹ QUESTIONS? ¹ Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds A National Early Detection and Rapid Response System for Invasive Plants in the United States. Washington D.C.