Babcock Ranch Community Invasive Species …Babcock Ranch History ¬ 1930 – Fred C. Babcock began...
Transcript of Babcock Ranch Community Invasive Species …Babcock Ranch History ¬ 1930 – Fred C. Babcock began...
Babcock Ranch Community
Invasive Species
Integrated Management
Creating Lower Maintenance, Cost-
effective
Land Management
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
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
Reviewing Existing Practices
Invasive Assessment
¬ 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
Reviewing Existing Practices
Invasive Assessment
¬ 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
Fundamentals of Invasive Species Management
¬ Prevention
¬ Early Detection
¬ Control
¬ Restoration
Fundamental Building Blocks
¬ Research
¬ Education
¬ Monitoring
¬ Organizational Collaboration
Supporting Components
¬ 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.
Important Points
Components of Introduction
– Pathways and Vectors
Prevention
¬ Roads and Maintenance
¬ Agricultural Operations
¬ Silviculture
¬ Prescribed Burning
¬ Wildfire Control Efforts
Management solutions for invasive species will not become evident until the
common pathway and vectors are identified ²
² Lodge, et. al. 2006. “Biological invasions: recommendations for US policy
and management.” Ecological Applications. 16: 2035-2054.
Components of Introduction
– Pathways and Vectors
Prevention
¬ Roads and Maintenance
¬ Agricultural Operations
¬ Silviculture
¬ Prescribed Burning
¬ Wildfire Control Efforts
Management solutions for invasive species will not become evident until the
common pathway and vectors are identified ²
² Lodge, et. al. 2006. “Biological invasions: recommendations for US policy
and management.” Ecological Applications. 16: 2035-2054.
¬ 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
Customizing your EDRR
Early Detection Rapid Response
¬ Priority EDRR Species
¬ Identification Material
¬ Network of Observant People
¬ Reporting System
¬ Rapid Response Team
Maximizing Effectiveness
Invasive Control
¬ 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
Previous Exotic Treatment Practices
Species Methodology Herbicide
Melaleuca Cut Stump Imazapyr
Thistle Foliar Spray Glyphosate
Tropical soda apple Foliar Spray Triclopyr
Brazilian pepper Foliar Spray Triclopyr
Cogongrass Foliar Spray Glyphosate
¬ 150-gallon and 136-gallon tank
¬ Chainsaw and spray bottles
Current Exotic Treatment Practices
Species Methodology Herbicide
cogongrass foliar 2% Glyphosate/.25% Imazapyr
lygodium foliar/poodle cut 4% Glyphosate
melaleuca cut stump Imazapyr
Brazilian pepper Basal bark 10-15% Triclopyr
thistle foliar Aminopyralid
soda apple foliar Aminopyralid
Babcock Ranch Preserve - Treatment Prioritization Ranking
Size of infestation
Small infestation with no adjacent infestations
4
Small infestation with some small adjacent infestations
3
Many small infestations, not yet monoculture 2
Large monoculture infestation 1
Location Risk of Infestation
Hub location (e.g. equipment storage facility) 10
High risk linear pathway (e.g. roadway with regular traffic/grading; ROW with mowing)
5
Located within relatively pristine area 5
Management History
Planned or recent controlled burn (within 6 mos.)
2
No previous treatments 0
1 previous treatment (within 6 mos to 1 year) 1
2 previous treatments (consecutive treatments considered within 1-2 years of eachother)
2
>2 previous treatments (see prevoius criteria for treatment timing)
3
Management activity conducsive to spreading
4
Species Biology/Priority
Category I species not common within BRP (EDRR)
20
Category II species not common within BRP (EDRR 2nd priority)
10
BRP priority species
point based on rank (e.g. cogon - 5 b/c priority one)
Species will have significant impact on revenue generating activity
Yes - 10; Moderate - 5;
No - 0
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
QUESTIONS?
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
¹ Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds.
2003. “A National Early Detection and Rapid Response System for Invasive Plants in
the United States.” Washington D.C.