SLELO PRISM

Time and resources are limited, therefore, it is important that SLELO-PRISM partners focus the management of invasive species on sites that are considered ecologically important and/or sites that are considered to have conservation value. In addition, sites that are considered to be seed banks, vectors, or that pose a proximity threat to high-value sites are all factors involved in determining site-based management on both public and private lands. The SLELO partnership has named these sites as Priority Conservation Areas or PCA’s. The PCA’s are then further divided into Highly Probable Areas (HPA’s).

HPAs include those areas where human activities or site conditions increase the probability of an invasive species becoming established. Conditions and activities at these HPAs may facilitate invasion in several ways, like human movement through the area, disturbances caused by concentrated human activities, and site conditions. Some examples for HPAs in aquatic areas include boat launches, fishing access sites, and coves with shallow slow-moving waters. HPAs in terrestrial areas include trailheads, parking areas, campgrounds, and disturbed areas from logging or other events.