About the Everglades CISMA
What is a CISMA?
A Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area is a formal partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies, tribes, individuals and various interested groups that manage invasive species and is defined by a geographic boundary.
Why a CISMA in the Everglades?
Florida has a long history of invasive species organization cooperation such as the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, Noxious Exotic Weed Task Team, Florida Invasive Animal Task Team and Invasive Species Working Group.
Everglades restoration poses new challenges for invasive species management and has created a need for a more defined commitment to cooperation among agencies and organizations at higher levels of policy and management.
What will the Everglades CISMA provide?
Everglades restoration will be enhanced by the establishment of a formal framework for staff and management cooperation among agencies and other coordinating bodies such as the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, Working Group and Science Coordination Group.
An Everglades CISMA is needed to:
- Formalize areas of coordination and cooperation among agencies.
- Define specific geographical areas and prioritize species for Everglades restoration.
- Integrate coordination, control and management of invasive species at regional, multi-jurisdictional levels.
- Directly involve high-level policy makers and managers in Everglades invasive species coordination and areas of cooperation through a formal agreement.
- Be eligible for additional funding opportunities that are only available to CISMA-type organizations.
- Provide multi-organizational agreement and support toward the development of an Invasive Species Master Plan as part of CERP.
- Organize an Invasive Species Steering Committee to provide direction, coordinate actions and funding, and provide regular oversight and updates to the Invasive Species Master Plan.
- Resolve interagency coordination issues that require higher level management involvement (such as coordination of budget planning).
- Help ensure the success of Everglades restoration.