Early Detection of Invasive Plant Species Monitoring Plan Standard Operating Procedure #4: Biological Sanitation
Ainsworth A, Gross J, Simon MJ, Jacobi JD, Loh RK, Harrison S, Berkowitz P, Yoshioka JM, Starr F, Starr K, Loope LL. 2017. Early Detection of Invasive Plant Species Monitoring Plan Standard Operating Procedure #4: Biological Sanitation. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This SOP explains the sanitation procedures required of field crews working within Pacific Island Network (PACN) parks as part of the Early Detection of Invasive Species Monitoring Plan (Ainsworth et al. 2017). Implementation of sanitation procedures are critical to ensure that invasive plant and animal species are not spread by field crews working near, in, and around invasive species populations or in areas that are native-dominated. Sanitation, in this context, is best defined as the removal and destruction of invasive species, plant parts, or propagules through the decontamination of vehicles, tools, equipment, supplies, clothes, and hands to prevent the spread of invasive plants, animals, or pathogens. The required sanitation procedures should be implemented by all agencies and organizations that work in natural areas of high ecological value, as one of the major dispersal mechanisms of invasive species into these areas is through human actions (i.e., on field staff, vehicles, helicopters, pack animals, equipment and supplies). Before working in any park, review all sanitation guidelines for that park, and then implement whichever sanitation protocol (this protocol or the park protocol) is more stringent. In all cases, field crews are responsible for understanding and implementing sanitation guidelines before, during, and after monitoring events.
- Type
- Standard Operating Procedure
- Authors
- Ainsworth, Alison; Gross, Jacob; Simon, Melissa; Jacobi, James; Loh, Rhonda; Harrison, Sky; Berkowitz, Paul; Yoshioka, Joan; Starr, Forrest; Starr, Kim; Loope, Lloyd
- Date of Issue
- 2017-11
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ALKA , AMME , HALE , HAVO , KAHO , KALA , NPSA , NRSS , PACN , PUHE , PUHO , VALR , WAPA
- Keywords
- early detection, invasive species, non-native species, weeds
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic plants