Montana Invasive Species Strategic Framework

The Montana Invasive Species Council (MISC) was proactively created by the Montana Governor’s office in 2015 and tasked with identifying priority invasive species issues and making recommendations to improve invasive species management.

In March of 2016, MISC completed a statewide assessment of the individuals, groups, and agencies working on invasive species, their management priorities, and an estimate of their expenditures. Following this assessment, MISC hosted a summit in April 2016 attended by 175 representatives from across the state to prioritize the invasive species management challenges faced by a state with many habitats, borders, and partners.

From those discussions, along with four public listening sessions held in September and October 2016 in Miles City, Wolf Point, Great Falls, and Pablo, the Montana Invasive Species Framework was developed to include all partners and stakeholders in managing invasive species including federal, tribal, state, county, nonprofit, private companies, landowners, and the people of Montana. The framework includes more than 90 coordinated actions that would better protect Montana from invasive species; five key areas highlighted for improvements are listed below:

COORDINATION: Respond to invasive species as a shared responsibility and a common priority across the state by integrating and strengthening Montana’s management.

PREVENTION: Reduce the transport of invasive species into and within Montana by fully engaging existing entities and resources.

DETECTION: Identify invasive species and responsibly share the locations of high-priority invasive species across jurisdictions in Montana to focus and improve management.

RAPID RESPONSE: Develop a generalized rapid response plan for emerging invasive species.

CONTROL: Grow both capacity and expertise in managing invasive species in Montana to improve program effectiveness.