Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)

Mission Statement

Invasive species pose a serious threat to the Sonoran Desert Ecosystem, the local and regional economies that depend on it, and the health and welfare of its human occupants. By increasing fine fuels and preempting water, nutrients and space otherwise available to native species, invasive species elevate fire risks in urban areas, pose a threat to parks and natural areas, and could eventually compromise conservation efforts such as Pima County's Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. Economic impacts of plant invasions could be substantial over the long term, including mounting costs of fire suppression, erosion of tourist revenue, and diminished property values.

The mission of the Pima/Santa Cruz River Basin CISMA is to help implement ecologically and economically sound strategies for managing invasive species by:

• Identifying management priorities and problem species

• Facilitating collection and sharing of information, including mapping, treatment schedules, and treatment results

• Promoting public education and outreach

• Enhancing collaboration and sharing of scarce resources across jurisdictional boundaries that span both public and private lands

• Helping secure funding for control and eradication efforts