Invasive Plant Management Costs Hoosiers over $5 million in 2012
A recent survey conducted by the Invasive Plant Advisory Committee found that land owners and managers in Indiana spent $5.85 million in 2012 to manage invasive plants on their land.

Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) and Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs)

CISMAs / CWMAs are local organizations that bring together landowners and land managers, local, state and federal agencies, tribes, individuals and various interested groups to coordinate action and share expertise and resources to manage invasive species in a defined area. This collaborative effort at the local level enables CISMAs to pool resources and knowledge to address mutual invasive species issues.
CISMAs and CWMAs:

• Operate within a defined geographic area, distinguished by a common geography, invasive species problem, community, climate, political boundary, or land use;
• Involve a broad cross-section of landowners and natural resource managers within its defined boundaries;
• Are governed by a Steering Committee;
• Make a long-term commitment to cooperation, usually through a formal agreement among partners;
• Have a comprehensive plan that addresses the management or prevention of invasive species within its boundaries; and
• Facilitate cooperation and coordination across jurisdictional boundaries.

CISMAs and CWMAs bring together local citizens, landowners, non-profit organizations, industry, and city, county, state, tribal, and federal representatives to work towards a common goal—effective control of invasive species.