Chapter 2 • Data Managementmission, TNC decided in 1999 to create a data managementtool that allows natural resource managers to keep track oftheir own NIS data, assist with NIS mapping ef<strong>for</strong>ts, <strong>and</strong>easily share data with partners.WIMS is an integrated system of hardware <strong>and</strong> softwarethat simplifies the collection <strong>and</strong> management of NISdata. The central piece of WIMS is the relational MicrosoftAccess database that keeps track of all NIS occurrences,assessments (coarse-scale monitoring), <strong>and</strong> managementtreatments <strong>for</strong> all NIS within a defined area. Data can beeasily exchanged between multiple users, exported inNAWMA <strong>for</strong>mat, <strong>and</strong> written to shapefiles <strong>for</strong> mapping inmost geographic in<strong>for</strong>mation system (GIS) program. WIMScan be used in combination with h<strong>and</strong>held personal digitalassistants with attached global positioning system (GPS)units (or with Trimble GeoXT or XM units) to facilitate thecollection of mapping data in the field.WIMS is available free by download at http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/wims.html, along with extensive documentationshowing how to use the system, including a User’sManual outlining how to store <strong>and</strong> maintain data.State <strong>and</strong> Regional-Scale NIS DatabasesWith regard to coarse-scale data, as of 2006 there areseveral databases, some of them Web-accessible, that cankeep track of NIS inventory <strong>and</strong> survey data, mostly at thestate <strong>and</strong> regional (multistate) scales. Table 2 lists a few examplesof these state <strong>and</strong> regional NIS databases. At the statescale, many states keep track of NIS or state-listed noxiousweeds through their state agriculture departments, heritageprograms, the NatureServe online database (http://www.natureserve.org), or a designated state herbarium. Chapter9 gives detailed in<strong>for</strong>mation on the Montana <strong>and</strong> ColoradoNIS survey <strong>and</strong> mapping databases.Data that are readily accessible to l<strong>and</strong> managers in suchstate databases may be at a resolution from detailed tocoarse, but even NIS maps that are produced at a coarsescale can assist in setting state- or region-wide prevention,early detection/rapid response, <strong>and</strong> management priorities.What makes some of these regional databases extremelyuseful, beyond making <strong>and</strong> displaying maps of NIS locations,is that they also include associated data <strong>for</strong> each NISrecord, allow users to input new NIS data, provide mapsat various scales, include NIS ranking in<strong>for</strong>mation, <strong>and</strong>provide NIS alerts <strong>and</strong> recommendations <strong>for</strong> early detectionactivities. More examples of state <strong>and</strong> regional NISdatabases can be found in the <strong>Plant</strong> Databases section ofInvasivespeciesinfo.gov, at http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/databases/plantdb.shtml.ConclusionsThe management of NIS inventory/survey data can beeasy to complex, depending on project objectives, dataneeded, <strong>and</strong> the manager’s predisposition <strong>for</strong> managingdata. Depending on the degree of detail needed, there arealready some data management tools <strong>and</strong> frameworksavailable <strong>for</strong> use by natural resource professionals. Formanaging NIS data beyond keeping track of data on paperor in simple spreadsheets, one of the existing data managementtools should be considered, since the construction <strong>and</strong>maintenance of data management systems from scratch is adem<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>and</strong> expensive long-term commitment. Using apreexisting data management tool has the added advantageof making it easy to share data between <strong>and</strong> among existingsystems <strong>and</strong> their databases.Ultimately, complete <strong>and</strong> current NIS data are essentialto in<strong>for</strong>m prevention, management, <strong>and</strong> policy decisions.Managers with access to up-to-date inventory/survey <strong>and</strong>monitoring data that track the species of concern, theirlocations, rate of spread, <strong>and</strong> native communities affectedwill find themselves in a better position to make the NISmanagement decisions necessary to achieve their l<strong>and</strong>management goals.Table 2. Examples of model NIS databases.USGS National Institute of Invasive <strong>Species</strong> Science (USGS-NIISS):National scale NIS databaseAlaska Exotic <strong>Plant</strong> In<strong>for</strong>mation Clearinghouse (AKEPIC)Invasive <strong>Plant</strong> Atlas of New Engl<strong>and</strong> (IPANE)Invaders Database SystemSouthwest Exotic <strong>Plant</strong> In<strong>for</strong>mation Clearinghouse (SWEPIC):A regional compilation of several databaseshttp://www.niiss.orghttp://akweeds.uaa.alaska.edu/http://invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane/http://invader.dbs.umt.edu/http://www.usgs.nau.edu/SWEPIC/20<strong>Inventory</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Survey</strong> <strong>Methods</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Nonindigenous</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> <strong>Species</strong>
Chapter 2 • Data ManagementReferencesChornesky, E. A. <strong>and</strong> J. M. R<strong>and</strong>all. 2003. The threat of invasive alienspecies to biological diversity: Setting a future course. Ann. Missouri Bot.Gard. 90: 67-76.Elzinga, C., D. Salzer, J. Willoughby, <strong>and</strong> J Gibbs. 2001. Measuring <strong>and</strong>Monitoring <strong>Plant</strong> <strong>and</strong> Animal Populations. Malden, MA: BlackwellScience, Inc. 360 pp.Hobbs, R. J. <strong>and</strong> S. E. Humphries. 1995. An integrated approach to theecology <strong>and</strong> management of plant invasions. Conserv. Biol. 9(4): 761-770.Maxwell, B. <strong>and</strong> L. J. Rew. 2005. Agroecology/Weed Ecology Web site,http://weedeco.msu.montana.edu/.[NAWMA] North American Weed Management Association. 2003. NorthAmerican Invasive <strong>Plant</strong> Mapping St<strong>and</strong>ards. http://www.nawma.org/.Owen, S. J. 1998. Department of Conservation Strategic Plan <strong>for</strong>Managing Invasive Weeds. Wellington, NZ: New Zeal<strong>and</strong> Departmentof Conservation. http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/003~Weeds/003~DOCs-Strategic-Plan-<strong>for</strong>-Managing-Invasive-Weeds.pdf.Rejmánek, M. <strong>and</strong> M. J. Pitcairn. 2002. When is eradication of exotic pestplants a realistic goal? Pages 249-253 in C. R. Veitch <strong>and</strong> M. N. Clout,eds. Turning the Tide: The Eradication of Invasive <strong>Species</strong>. Proceedingsof the International Conference on Eradication of Isl<strong>and</strong> Invasives.Cambridge, UK: IUCN Publications Services Unit.21<strong>Inventory</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Survey</strong> <strong>Methods</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Nonindigenous</strong> <strong>Plant</strong> <strong>Species</strong>
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