The Apalachicola Regional Stewardship Alliance (ARSA) Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) was established in 2003 by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Northwest Florida Program and other stakeholders in the Apalachicola River region with concerns related to non-native invasive species. The primary reason for the creation of the CISMA was to facilitate a network for land managers to address the growing threat of non-native invasive species in the region. Since its inception, the CISMA has conducted semiannual meetings, implemented control projects on private lands, assisted land managers with grant writing, compiled and shared data, performed cooperative outreach and education, and participated in other activities related to non-native invasive species. Our goals for the future include the continuation and expansion of these activities, with an increased focus on private land control and public education programs.
