San Diego County's Natural Community Conservation Programs (NCCP) are challenged with management and monitoring of approximately 200,000 acres of conserved lands in the western region of the county, with invasive species-both plants and animals being one of the greatest threats to ecological processes and persistence of rare species. The Conservation Biology Institute (CBI), Dendra, Inc., and California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) have been working with land managers in developing the State's first strategic plan for management and monitoring of invasive plant species on a regional level. This project has included:
1. Guiding the collection of invasive plant distribution data by mapping contractors (AECOM).
2, Conducting detailed impact assessments for regionally important invasive plants, using a modified form of the standard Plant Assessment Forms (PAF) developed by Cal-IPC, with transparent and detailed scoring and evaluations specific to the western San Diego region.
3. Developing a strategic plan that identifies priorities for near-term management and monitoring on a regional basis.