Strategic management of public invasive species programs
Burke, Steven, J.A.
U S Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station General Technical Report PNW GTR 694: 67-72
2007
Document Number: 361502
Government invasive species control programs can create significant public value in terms of economic, environmental,recreational and public health benefits. These benefits are however constrained by: 1) inconsistencies between jurisdictions, and 2) lack of effective administration within many jurisdictions. As well as being ecological opportunists, invasive species also can be viewed as exploiting administrative and jurisdictional weaknesses and opportunities. Increasingly, land management agencies are developing strategies to focus their activities to achieve defined invasive species program missions and goals. Effectiveness of these strategies will be increased through their alignment with overarching regional and national strategic frameworks to achieve a more collaborative, coordinated and accountable effort. Equally important, although less strongly emphasized, strategic management is necessary over time to successfully implement these strategies, and account for increases in public value. In King County, Washington, strategic management is used to deliver increased public value from noxious weed control. Working towards the mission of "minimizing noxious weed impact on the environment, recreation, public health and economic resources," the program measures performance using indicators for specific operational goals. These goals and some 2005 performance indicator results are: 1) eradicating existing infestations and preventing new infestations of Class A. (highest priority) noxious weeds - 60 percent of area found to date eradicated, and 2) controlling designated Class B (second-tier priority) noxious weeds to below thresholds of significant impact - 78 percent of area found in 2005 controlled. A variety of management tools are used to improve these indicators over time. These emphasize alignment of staff accountability with program goals, and increasing their empowerment and participation in program decision-making. Strategic management of public-sector invasive species programs is critical to enhancing their effectiveness. By better aligning the strategies of the various government entities engaged in invasive species management and more effectively implementing them, the public value created by these public programs can be significantly increased.