Our Mission is to combat invasive plant species to nurture native habitats throughout Indianapolis. We are one of over two dozen CISMAs that have formed across the state representing over a third of the counties as part of the Indiana Invasives Initiative. More than $8 million is spent to manage invasive species per Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology (DEPP) in this state. In 2012, 116 landowners spent more than $5 million to manage invasive plants
CISMAs are Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas, also known as CWMAs, Cooperative Weed Management Areas. They first became popular in the western US, but over the past decade have become more widespread in the eastern states, including the Midwest. Sometimes called Coalitions, Partnerships, or Councils, CISMAs are formed to collectively combat the problem of invasive species spreading across the landscape. They can vary greatly in their geographic range, activity level, and focus, and are usually comprised of representatives from various governmental agencies, non-profits, and concerned citizens or citizen groups. They might cover a single county, or extend over multiple counties.
CISMAs have been shown to very effectively target invasive species problems by engaging local interests and addressing invasive issues across various land ownerships. By working together at the local level, CWMA/CISMA partners are able to pool resources and knowledge to address mutual invasive species problems. In Indiana, the first CISMA was formed in Brown County in 2006, the Brown County Native Woodlands Project. Now, through SICIM’s Indiana Invasives Initiative, we are working to establish new CISMAs across Indiana, and provide resources and guidance for new and established CISMAs. For CISMA resources and more information on CISMAs in the Midwest, you can also check out the Midwest Invasive Plant Network.
