Invasives Best Management Practices

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Development of Urban Forestry Best Management Practices for Invasive Species in Wisconsin


Thank you for agreeing to review the Draft Wisconsin’s Urban Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Invasive Species. The on-line survey will be
posted for public comment from June 30th through July 30th.


In 2004, the Wisconsin Council on Forestry (WCOF) identified the threat of invasive species as the most critical issue facing Wisconsin’s Forests. Invasive species

(including plants, insects and diseases) can kill trees, reduce the benefits provided by our forests, decrease overall biodiversity and burden property owners with exorbitant control costs.

In response, the WCOF initiated efforts to develop voluntary Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Invasive Species. Four BMP tracks, each with their own Advisory Committee, were created to fully address invasive species issues in all of Wisconsin’s forested areas, including: Forestry BMPs, Recreation BMPs, Urban Forestry BMPs, and Transportation & Utility Rights-of-Way BMPs.

Working collaboratively, an advisory committee and technical team developed a set of voluntary Best Management Practices to help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species through urban forestry practices.

The Urban Forestry BMP Advisory Committee and Technical Team are made up of representatives from:

  • Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council
  • Wisconsin Turfgrass Association
  • Wisconsin Nursery Association
  • UW-Extension
  • Wisconsin Arborists Association
  • UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources
  • Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association
  • American Society of Landscape Architects - WI Chapter
  • WI Dept. of Natural Resources  – Division of Forestry
  • WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
  • UW-Madison Agronomy
  • Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin
  • UW-Madison Landscape Architecture
  • Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association
  • Town of Menominee
  • City of Madison
  • UW-Madison Horticulture
  • Door County Invasive Species Team
  • City of Oak Creek
  • Wal-Mart
  • Wisconsin Garden Club Federation
  • The Park People of Milwaukee County

 

The BMPs are divided into chapters based on urban forestry practices: Planning, Design, Sales, Planting and Installation, Management/Maintenance, Sanitation & Debris Disposal, Research & Monitoring, and Education. Each chapter is written to stand alone, so a BMP may be repeated in several different chapters.

Survey Instructions:

  1. Download the Draft Wisconsin’s Urban Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Invasive Species manual.
  2. Review the manual keeping in mind the following questions from the survey:
    • Is each of the following BMPs understandable? If not, please suggest specific ways to make the statement more understandable. 
    • Are there any considerations that are not understandable (Please indicate 5.1 b. etc….)?
    • Did you find anything in the chapter introduction or text boxes that is not understandable?
    • Are there any BMPs you feel are missing and should be included? If yes, please list them and reference the chapter you feel they best fit in.
    • Are there any considerations you feel are missing and should be included? If yes, please, list them and reference the BMP (e.g. 7.4) you feel they best fit with.
    • Do you have any comments, suggestions or additions for the appendices such as resources or other invasives material?
    • Is there anything else you want to say about the Urban Forestry Best Management Practices (e.g. consider the practicality and effectiveness of the BMPs)?
  3. While reviewing the manual it will be helpful for you to type notes/comments in a word processing program such as Word or Notepad. Later you can cut and paste your comments into the spaces provided in the on-line survey. 
  4. Note: It may take an hour or more to thoroughly review the manual.
  5. Go to the on-line survey by clicking on the link below.
  6. Complete the on-line survey.
  7. Note: The estimated time for completing the survey will vary based on the detail of your answers. However there is a 16 minute time limit for entering information on each page of the survey. Composing your comments prior to taking the survey and cutting and pasting them from a word processing program will save you time.
  8. It is possible to skip questions or chapters if you have no comment on them or they do not apply to you.
  9. The survey must be completed in one session. It is NOT possible to save the survey and return to finish it at a later time.
  10. If you prefer to hand write comments or track your changes you can request a Word version of the survey from the contact below. Email or mail your responses by July 30.

The on-line survey will be posted for public comment from June 30th through July 30th.

If you have any questions on the BMPs or the review and survey process, please contact:

Olivia Witthun
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
625 E County Road Y, Suite 700
Oshkosh WI, 54901
Phone: 920-303-5421
Email: Olivia.Witthun@wi.gov

Click here to download the draft manual [PDF, 1.6MB].
Click here to access the on-line survey.

Thank you!