Solving the challenge of tracking yearly treatments of invasive plant species over a large geographic extent

Wisconsin Invasive Species Control

Invasive plant species reduce biodiversity, which can cause an ecosystem to become more susceptible to environmental stress. As successful treatment methods must be monitored and applied year after year, it can be difficult and expensive to coordinate at the scale necessary to make a meaningful difference.

We believe that gains in invasive plant management can be made through increased stakeholder collaboration to pool monetary and knowledge-based resources. So, we have partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership, local landowners, and many others to create a management plan that involves surveying and tracking treatments of invasive species. We gathered unorganized invasive plant GIS data from our partners, and then combined and improved upon it with desktop and field verification utilizing ArcGIS Online applications. This improved data set helps our partners gain a better understanding of the spatial distribution of wetland invasive species within the ever-growing service area and attempt to control them through mechanical and herbicide treatments in the hope of eradication.

Using ArcGIS is helping us educate the public and protect biodiversity and ecological function in Wisconsin to contribute to a high quality of life for present and future generations.