Forestry Survey

Draft BMP for invasives survey


Thank you for reviewing the Draft Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Preventing the Spread of Invasive Species by Outdoor Recreation Activities in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Council on Forestry (WCOF) identified invasive species as the most critical issue facing Wisconsin’s Forests. Invasive species, including plants, insects and diseases, can kill trees and impact forest regeneration and productivity.

In response, WCOF initiated efforts to develop voluntary Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Invasive Species. Four BMP tracks, each with their own Advisory Committee, were created to fully address the issue of invasive species in Wisconsin’s forests, including: Forestry BMPs, Recreation BMPs, Urban Forestry BMPs, and Transportation and Utility Rights-of-Way BMPs.

The Recreation BMP Advisory Committee was made up of representatives from:
Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Friends of Wisconsin State Parks
Governor's State Trail Council Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation
Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin National Park Service
North Country Trail Association ORV Council
Sierra Club-Trail Chair The Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin
Wisconsin 4-Wheel Drive Association Wildlife Forever
Wisconsin Bowhunters Association Wisconsin ATV Association
Wisconsin County Forests Association Wisconsin Conservation Congress
WDNR - Bureau of Parks & Recreation Wisconsin Department of Tourism
WDNR - Bureau of Forest Science WDNR - Bureau of Endangered Resources
Wisconsin Off-Highway Vehicle Association Wisconsin Donkey and Mule Society
Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association Wisconsin Off-Road Bicycling Association
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Wisconsin State Horse Council

Working collaboratively, technical teams within the Advisory Committee developed a set of voluntary practices to increase recreational users’ awareness of invasive species and limit the spread of invasives through recreational activities.

These BMPs are divided into 7 “spokes:” Animal-based Recreation; Bicycle Recreation; Camping Recreation; Hunter, Trapper and Angler Recreation; Motorized Recreation; Pedestrian-based Recreation; and Land Management (in development).

Overall, these guidelines address issues universal to all recreational activities, issues unique to each type of recreational activity, and issues faced by managers of recreational lands.

If you have any questions on the BMPs or this review process, contact Bernie Williams at 608-266-0624 or Bernadette.Williams@wi.gov.

To complete the review process, please take the survey. There is a 16-minute time limit for each page of the survey so please review the draft (link above) beforehand. As an option, you may also compose comments in Notepad or Word before taking the survey, and then copy & paste directly into the suggestions boxes provided in the survey form. Thank you! Go to survey

As another option, you may also mail comments to:
  Bernadette Williams
  WDNR-FR/4
  PO Box 7921
  Madison, WI 53707-7921

When completed, the Best Management Practices will be posted on the Wisconsin Council on Forestry website at http://council.wisconsinforestry.org.
Last Revised: Tuesday February 17 2009