Integrated pest management plan for the sevilleta national wildlife refuge

Abstract

Each National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) National Wildlife Refuge System provides landscapes that contribute to conservation of wildlife and the habitats they depend on at local, regional, and national levels. I am the New Mexico Invasive Species Strike Team Lead and am responsible for planning and management of invasive species on eight National Wildlife Refuges across the state. Part of my responsibilities included writing Integrated Pest Management Plans. My Professional Paper, the Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP) for Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuges presents the goals, objectives, strategies, and guidance for managing non-native invasive species, as well addresses the long-term vision, continuity, and consistency for the target species on Sevilleta NWR. My IPMP identifies the highest priority non-native invasive plant species found on the Refuge as well as prioritizes areas for treatment. I selected areas based on the conservation assets of Sevilleta NWR and then identified the invasive species that occur in these areas. I combined two tools produced by the FWS for prioritizing target areas and species. The Invasive Plant Inventory and Early Detection Tool (IPIEDT) focuses on Early Detection Rapid Response and the Invasive Plant Management and Prioritization Tool (IPMPT) prioritizes based on response to management actions. By combining the tools, I added the management aspect from the IPMPT to the inventory and rapid response portion of the IPIEDT to encourage more active management of early detection rapid response species. Without prioritization, management objectives can be subjected to personal bias and lack long term success. I established management objectives and yearly actions to meet these objectives. Regular monitoring is required to ensure management is effective and moving towards achieving the objectives. A specific monitoring protocol was not developed as a part of my plan. Ideally, this would have been included, but Refuge staff are unlikely to enact any formal monitoring due to low staffing. My plan will also guide priority work for the New Mexico Invasive Species Strike Team and its funds and is intended to be adaptable to changing circumstances and remain in effect until the objectives are met.