PARENT SESSION
Workshop: Management and Research Interface
Organizer: Horvitz, Carol¹, ¹ University of Miami, Miami, FL
Wednesday, November 5, 2003, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Florida Ballroom B/C

Abating the threat of invasive species - Moving adaptive management from concept to practice.

Bartuska, Ann^{1, 2}, ¹ The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA² Ecological Society of America, Washington, DC

ABSTRACT- Generally accepted steps for a comprehensive strategy include: assessment and risk analysis, prevention, early detection, rapid response and eradication, control and management, restoration and public awareness. While prevention is key, in reality, new species will continue to invade. Our ability to detect these new invaders early and to rapidly eradicate them is becoming a focal point for management. Ongoing assessments and increasing knowledge about invasion pathways and population dynamics must be integrated equally rapidly into the decision-making process. In reality, this integration is slow to occur and few systems are in place that enable those gathering new information to actively dialogue with the practitioners. TNC has begun applying this concept to the invasive species threat through a Collaborative Learning Partnership. These learning partnerships reflect a rigorous but flexible mechanism to bring scientists and practitioners together in collaborative problem solving, with the results of the dialogue being implemented in real-time in the field.

Key words: Adaptive Management