So Many Weeds, So Little Time: A Prioritization Tool for Invasive Species Management

PA Forests Web Seminar Center

Date: October 11, 2016
Times: noon - 1:00 PM and 7:00 - 8:00 PM, eastern time. Questions often last an extra 15 to 20 minutes

Registration: Presentation URL (for both times): https://meeting.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/
Handouts, PowerPoints and Recorded Presentations will be available at
http://extension.psu.edu/private-forests/tools-resources/webinars


Presentation summary:

This presentation will address how prioritization is an implementation of IPM, as it requires clarity of objective, setting thresholds, identifying available resources, assigning the proper prescription, and monitoring results.  The planning approach uses a spreadsheet document to consider both the location and the invasive species present.  It looks at land units within a property, assesses ecological value and integrity, and outreach value of the land unit (ability to attract outside resources).  Weed characteristics are extent, impact, and restoration effort.  An index value is applied for each characteristic, generating a score for 0 to 10 for each land unit/species interaction.  This initial prioritization generates a worklist by location, and the user identifies the available personnel and the operations.  From this, a work calendar is produced. Primary concepts of this approach are: “Protect the Best” - work in more-intact areas first, to optimize the acres protected per unit of effort; “Bundling” - charismatic species may trigger an operation, but time the operation and equip personnel to address as many species as possible; “Control Phase vs Maintenance” - care of natural areas is perpetual, but well-directed efforts lead to a quick transition from resource intensive control efforts to ongoing maintenance that requires a tiny fraction of the original effort. In addition to planning/IPM, the presentation will focus on the details of creating a limited prescription list to simplify operations and inventory, including herbicide selection and application methods.

Presented by: Art Gover, Research Associate, Wildland Weed Management Program, Penn State

*** Please note: Continuing Education credits are not available for reviewing recorded webinars. You must participate in the live seminar to receive credit.

This webinar counts for 1 hour of PA SFI Continuing Education (C.E.) credit. You must complete 3 additional hours of C.E. credit to add 1 year to your training card expiration date. Individuals seeking C.E. credit must submit a completed Non-SFI Course C.E. credit form (Please request that the webinar administrator send PA SFI confirmation of your participation), a course agenda or certificate of completion, and a $20 administrative fee (Check made payable to “PA SIC”) to the PA SFI office. Continuing Education credit can only extend your PA SFI Training Card expiration date by a maximum of 3-years from the current calendar year. Please refer to the PA SFI Training Policy for a complete description of the program requirements.