A grassroots organization coordinates efforts and programs by numerous land owning agencies, non-profit organizations, and private landowners to address the threat of invasive plants.

For the last several years a lot has been done about invasives in southern Indiana but one thing that seemed to be missing until recently - was coordination. Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) are formed as landowners, private groups and government agencies look for more effective ways to limit the growing economic and environmental damage caused by invasive species. CWMAs are coalitions of private and public organizations – sharing knowledge, people and other resources in an effort to improve public education, prevention and eradication programs across a geographic area.

The White River RC&D began exploring the idea of forming a CWMA in 2007. Landowners and representatives from agencies and organizations agreed that working together could only be a benefit to all. Tom Tremain, President of the fledgling CWMA noted that once they agreed their cause was important, “We moved fairly quickly. By the summer of 2008 the Southern Indiana CWMA was incorporated and had formed a steering committee and had other committees operating.”

Tremain commends those early founders of the group for their steadfastness. “Many folks who showed up for our presentations weren’t at all sure what we were about -- but agreed they wanted to be part of a better solution to the escalating problem of invasive species.”

The Southern Indiana CWMA includes 37 counties unique for their karst, extensive forests, hills, rivers and lakes. Our economy relies heavily on forest products, agriculture and natural resource-based tourism. Invasive plants are a serious threat to all of these.

CWMAs foster efficient management activities across boundaries, pool available resources, and prioritize issues. A landowner’s toolkit for identifying and managing invasive species is being developed. As the Southern Indiana CWMA gains momentum and funding they hope to hire a director and expand their projects. “We have ambitious goals and a vision of southern Indiana as a natural landscape defined by healthy, diverse and economically productive communities of native species integrated within a mosaic of other land uses.” Tremain notes, “We have a lot of invasive species to prevent and control, so we’re always looking for more partners.”

For more information contact Teena Ligman, @ 812-276-4757 or tligman@fs.fed.us or Tom Tremain, CWMA President @ ttinogil@bcremc.net.