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.