Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Burns, Oregon » Range and Meadow Forage Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #280182
Title: Cooperative prevention systems to protect rangelands from the spread of invasive plants

Author
item GOODWIN, KIM - Montana State University
item Sheley, Roger
item JACOBS, JAMES - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item WOOD, SHANA - Montana State University
item MANOUKIAN, MARK - Montana State Extension Service
item SCHULDT, MIKE - Montana State Extension Service
item MILLER, ERIC - Montana State Extension Service
item SACKMAN, SHARLA - Montana State Extension Service

Submitted to: Rangelands
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2011
Publication Date: 2/1/2012
Citation: Goodwin, K., Sheley, R.L., Jacobs, J., Wood, S., Manoukian, M., Schuldt, M., Miller, E., Sackman, S. 2012. Cooperative prevention systems to protect rangelands from the spread of invasive plants. Rangelands. 34(1):26-31.

Interpretive Summary: Invasive plants continue to spread and impact rangelands in the western United States. Fortunately, many rangeland ecosystems still remain invasive weed-free.Cooperative prevention systems can safeguard these remaining areas. Local-level weed prevention areas (WPAs) prioritize prevention in the largely weed-free rangelands of eastern Montana. WPAs direct proactive approaches to weeds, a strategy more successful than common reactive approaches that focus on land already dominated by weeds. In a WPA, ranchers collectively implement specific strategies to protect rangelands from invasion over time. Social marketing campaigns are essential to guide long-view investments in prevention to county weed departments in eastern Montana.

Technical Abstract: Invasive plants continue to spread and impact rangelands in the western United States. Fortunately, many rangeland ecosystems still remain invasive weed-free.Cooperative prevention systems can safeguard these remaining areas. Local-level weed prevention areas (WPAs) prioritize prevention in the largely weed-free rangelands of eastern Montana. WPAs direct proactive approaches to weeds,a strategy more successful than common reactive approaches that focus on land already dominated by weeds. In a WPA, ranchers collectively implement specific strategies to protect rangelands from invasion over time. Social marketing campaigns are essential to guide long-view investments in prevention to county weed departments in eastern Montana.