CISMA: Co-operative Invasive Species Management Area

A new Invasive Species management group has been set up locally as part of a statewide program to control the spread of harmful invasive plants on our land and in our water. In Indiana, an invasive species management organization was first established in 2008 and covered 35 counties in southern Indiana. In 2018 it was expanded into a statewide project – “Indiana Invasives Initiative”.

Co-operative Invasive Species Management Area, or CISMA  

So what exactly is a CISMA? It’s a cooperative group which includes a broad cross-section of partners (landowners, natural resource managers, local government). Together the partners create a long-term commitment to the cooperation. The CISMA is led by a steering committee of key partner representatives and focuses on creating a comprehensive plan for Invasive Species management within the CISMA’s designated area. The CISMA also facilitates cooperation across jurisdictional and landownership boundaries.

We are currently seeking volunteers to get this important initiative underway and to participate in “weed wrangle” events this spring.

If you are interested, please contact Steering Committee Chair Peggy Wihebrink at pwihebrink@hotmail.com.  The next planning meeting will be held Tuesday, April 21 from 6-8pm at the Dane A. Miller Science Complex at Grace College.