Day 2 of NISAW - the Indiana Invasives Initiative

For day two of the National Invasive Species Awareness Week, we'll talk about the big initiative our organization is heading up: the Indiana Invasives Initiative (III).

The Indiana Invasives Initiative (III) resulted from the collaboration of two partners combining efforts to work on a grass-roots plan to manage invasive species state-wide. One partner was the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the other was us, Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM). Their agreement resulted in a 5-year plan to establish local cooperative invasive species management areas (CISMAs) around the state.

These local CISMAs work at the county level and are operated by interested partners who share a common goal to control invasives, and realize that since invasives don’t respect boundaries, success only comes by working together. These CISMAs provides locally-led education and training and technical assistance to local citizens.

In 2018, 10 new CISMAs have formed and several others are in the early stages of getting organized. They are making a difference in neighborhoods, public lands, family farms, and landscapes across Indiana. CISMAs educational outreach efforts are inspiring people to work together and learn more about how to preserve their natural areas and save their lands and waters from the impacts of invasives.

For more information on establishing a CISMA in your area go to sicim.info/cismas or contact sicim.info@gmail.com. Also, see the included SICIM Assistance map for the specific contact person for your area.