Invasive Plant Prevention and Management
222 W 7th Avenue #13
Anchorage, AK 99507
United States
The purpose of this instruction memorandum (IM) is to provide consistent implementation-level direction to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive plant species on BLM managed lands. There is a need for a standard set of stipulations and a priority invasive plant list to ensure 1) invasive species requirements are implemented consistently across the state
to protect BLM managed lands; 2) authorized land users are aware of their role in proactive invasive species management; and 3) there is compliance with applicable policy and guidance. This policy applies to external and internal authorized activities and is intended to complement any existing land use plan requirements.
This IM is mission related.
This IM applies to all BLM-authorized activities.1,2 It provides a standard stipulation template (Attachment 1) to be used on external BLM authorizations and on internal BLM projects as design features. This IM also defines BLM Alaska priority invasive plants for prevention and management efforts (Attachment 2).
This IM is effective immediately.
This policy is expected to reduce costs to BLM Alaska in the future. Without proactive management of invasive species, costs to BLM associated with invasive species management would likely increase due to the increased spread of unmanaged invasive plant species. Prevention and early detection have proven to be more successful and cost-effective
approaches to managing invasive species than allowing them to establish. Authorized users may incur costs for necessary treatment and control prescriptions.
The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019 amended the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act to provide direction (in 16 USC 666c–1) for each department to develop a strategic plan for protecting water, oceans, coasts, and wildlife from invasive species. This amendment directs the Secretary of the Interior through the BLM to take into consideration the economic and ecological costs of action or inaction during the development of strategic plans. In response, DOI updated Part 524 of the Departmental Manual on Invasive Species Management in 2020 (DOI 524 DM 1), which directs the Bureaus to implement measures to prevent the introduction, establishment, and spread of invasive plant species; detect and rapidly respond to invasive species; and eradicate or control populations of invasive plant species that are established. DOI 524 DM 1 also directs the Bureaus to use best management practices in all activities to reduce risks associated with invasive plant species, which include but are not limited to natural resource management, construction or development, fire management, permitting, and monitoring.
This policy is in conformance with the Integrated Vegetation Management Handbook (H-1740-2), BLM Manual 6100-National Landscape Conservation System Management (2012), and Department Manual on Environmental Quality
Programs Series 31: Part 524 - Invasive Species (2020).
If you have any questions regarding this IM, contact Ann Erickson, BLM Alaska Botany, Forestry, Range Programs Lead, 907-271-1985, [email protected].
This IM has been coordinated with Field and District Offices, AK-930 Division of Resources, AK-940 Lands and Realty, Alaska Fire Service, and HQ-220 Division of Forestry, Rangeland, and Vegetation Resources.