Project Summary

1. Project ID
Name	Invasive Plants: Impact and Prevention
Region	Gulf of Mexico Region
State	Gulf-wide
Location
Date of this update	9/1/00

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)
Habitat Restoration/Protection
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other: Invasive Plants

3. Project description (100 words or less)

Description of the Issues:

Experts estimate that invasive plants already infest over 100 million acres and continue to increase by 8 to 20 percent annually, costing the government, public land managers and private land-owners billions of dollars in lost revenues and control costs.

On an upcoming episode of TECHNO 2100, a team of national experts (EPA, Bureau of Land Management, Nature Conservancy, and others) will co-write and co-host an upcoming 30 minute documentary entitled Invasive Plants: "Impact and Prevention" slated to air on CNBC. This program will focus on effective and successful ways to prevent, control, and manage invasive plants and weeds in the Gulf of Mexico regions, as well as other affected areas across the country.

The objective of this program is to raise public awareness of the threat of biological diversity and the need for ongoing education, research, and cooperation between agencies.

Description of the Proposed Project:

ITV will produce an upcoming 30 minute documentary on the prevention, control, and management of invasive plants. This episode will air on CNBC and will incorporate the latest research, technologies, and editorial comments from various State, Regional, and Federal invasive plant experts. ITV will coordinate all videotaping, editing, production, promoting, and airing of this program. The estimated time for producing this program is 4 to 5 months, with an air date tentatively scheduled for late summer or fall of 2000.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

Cash

Federal

Non Federal

State government
Local government
Private industry
Public interest groups

Total


In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar value)

Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

9. Project Status

• Initiation date:
• Completion date:
• Current stage: (Initiated - I, Underway - U or Completed - C)

10. Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments