
NPS photo
Under the guidance of its exotic plant management plan, the park applies a systematic approach that prioritizes exotic plants for treatment, monitors the effects of those treatments on exotic plants and park resources, and mitigates any adverse effects to park resources. An adaptive management strategy is employed, which uses monitoring results to adjust treatment methods or mitigation methods to reach the desired future condition of treated areas in the parks. High priority species for treatment are melaleuca, Australian pine, Brazilian pepper, lather leaf, Old World climbing fern, lead tree, seaside mahoe, and green arrowhead vine. The park uses biological, physical, chemical, and mechanical methods to control exotic plants during initial treatment as well as retreatment of sites. The selected treatment is based on the type of exotic plant species, the native vegetation present, and the potential for threatened and endangered species habitat in the treatment area.