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Qualifications

Invasive Plant Control, Inc. (IPC) was established in 1997 and has operated as an entity exclusively focused on the control of invasive species for almost 12 years with projects ranging from the Virgin Islands to the hardwoods forests of northern Pennsylvania.  In 2006 IPC began offering its consulting services globally with its first project in Tanzania, Africa designing and implementing a course on prevention of invasive species through ports of entry.  IPC’s travel teams roam the United States targeting invasive species in fragile natural areas.  Utilizing an Integrated Pest Management approach, IPC focuses on selectivity through proper timing and application methods.  IPC also offers technologically advanced delineation, GPS/GIS & mapping of invasive species.

All IPC management plans and on the ground control projects have a strong emphasis on selectivity.  Protection of desirable flora and fauna is of the utmost importance in all IPC projects. 

IPC is one of only a few companies in the United States whose sole purpose is the management of Invasive Species nationwide.   Invasive plant management requires remarkably different methodologies than traditional vegetation management.  Focusing specifically on invasive species has allowed IPC, Inc. to become one of the nations leading private entities for controlling invasive plants. 

Utilizing an Integrated Pest Management Approach, IPC, Inc. has selectively controlled invasive species in hundreds of natural areas throughout the eastern United States since 1997.  The following are only a few of the properties where IPC has managed invasive species in the US:

IPC’s Travel Teams
IPC ground crews are made up entirely of travel teams.  Crew members live throughout the United States and spend all of their time on the road controlling invasive pest plants.  Most projects take from 1-4 weeks to complete.  Since our inception in 1997 IPC has been totally dedicated to the travel team concept and has become very efficient in managing such an operation.  Our crews are equipped with the following equipment to make their constant commuting manageable:

Equipment listed is per two crewmembers

Also available regionally when needed:

Travel Team Scenario
In December of 2008 our teams worked on 13 different sites:  Cherry Point USMC in North Carolina, Parris Island USMC in SC, Duke University in North Carolina, Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee, St. Mary’s in Maryland.  Episcopal High School in Virginia, Fairfax County in Virginia, Central Savannah River Land Trust, in Georgia, Greensboro, North Carolina, Owl’s Hill Nature Center in Tennessee, Richmond Battlefield in Virginia, and  Long Hunter State Park and Bledsoe Creek State Park in Tennessee. 

It took 12 crewmembers to complete each of these jobs and each project will require a follow up treatment in another season.  Understanding the plants, seasonality for control and the effectiveness of control in different seasons allows our crews to effectively treat invasives throughout the year.  During the winter, much of our work shifts to the southern states, usually south of Virginia.  During the warmer season our crews begin to stretch further north.  It is important for the crew to understand the change in control methods from one region to the next.  The method that will work in Florida on Privet will not necessarily work the same in Tennessee or Vermont. 

In order to be effective travelling throughout the eastern US, our hiring policy has always been to utilize college graduates in the resource management field.  All members of our travel teams at all levels either have or are working towards a degree.  Regional differences are an important reason to hire well trained personnel, but just as important is the need to secure a level of certainty that the employees in the field are managing invasive selectively. 

Defining Selectivity

IPC recognizes the sensitive state of the environment we work in and IPC trains its staff to understand each site as its own system.  IPC trains staff to properly identify the invasive species on the site.  Staff is then trained to identify the native species that look similar to the invasive species in the workzone.  Once identification is complete our crews rely on an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to begin the on the ground control.  IPC’s IPM approach relies heavily upon selectivity, timing and application method to reduce non target impact.

IPC operates utilizing a revised Integrated Pest Management strategy.  Elements of IPC’s IPM strategy include:

Maintaining the site is the most important step in the entire IPM process.  IPC always allows for at least a 5-year management plan following the initial treatment.  Seed bank, re-growth and adjacent infestations will be management concerns annually and must be managed with a long term strategy.

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When formulating a control plan, IPC draws from years of field experience.  Many managers like to use machetes and other non-selective tools to control invasive species.  IPC has found that this often requires more re-treatments due to uneven cuts and improper cut height.  IPC recommends cutting as low to the ground as possible followed within 30 seconds with a cut stump chemical application.  Mortality rates can decrease 50% due to improper application
 methods.

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Prior to beginning any project, IPC meets with local land managers.  During this field meeting IPC gains a better understanding of the land managers concerns.  This is also an opportune time for the crew to have an identification session with the local experts. 

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Many of the stumps that had to be retreated in this Melaleuca site in the Everglades were cut unevenly with a machete at the improper height

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IPC uses its on the ground experience to recommend the proper treatment protocols, thus increasing the initial mortality rate and decreasing long term costs to the client.


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Selective control can be accomplished through basal bark applications when treating certain species such as this Australian Pine


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Low volume applications should be recommended when designing a plan where multiple species are present.  Recommending a backpack sprayer versus a high volume unit is simple yet essential when trying to protect desirable species. 

  

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While sometimes more difficult and time consuming, cut stump treatments are far more selective.  When a replacement price is placed on the surrounding desirable species, this method is also less expensive.


Professional Organizations and Licenses

Steven Manning and Lee Patrick are the owners of Invasive Plant Control, Inc.  Combined Mr. Patrick and Mr. Manning have worked on hundreds of invasive species specific projects since entering the field in the late 1980’s.  Along with key staff members, IPC provides invasive plant identification, prioritization and selective control methodologies for invasive species management plans and on the ground control.  The two have spent many years developing and implementing invasive plant management plans throughout the eastern US.  Supporting staff provide the tools and knowledge necessary to assist in the completion of high resolution remote sensing, GIS Geodatabase development and other tolls required in management plan development. 

Organizational and Staff Experience
Currently, all have college degrees in resource management related field.  Our seasonal staff consist primarily of college interns or recent college graduates.  It has been our goal to hire individuals who are either working towards or currently have a degree in a resource management related field.  IPC feels that in order to manage highly sensitive natural areas, it is necessary to have staff ON-SITE that can differentiate between desirable and undesirable species.  Our staff is confident making their own decisions and just as confident in conversing with the client.  All IPC staff including field laborers have a college degree from a resource management related field.  This ensures a high level of selectivity in sensitive natural environments. 

EPPC Involvement
IPC’s founders have been an integral part of the Exotic Pest Plant Council’s since 1991.  EPPC’s are an excellent source for invasive plant management and gather many of the top minds in the field to discuss, research and disseminate information pertaining to the most up to date invasive plant management options.  Steven Manning served as the newsletter editor for the SE-EPPCV for several years, was an editor for Wildland Weeds Magazine, served as the treasurer for NC-EPPC for 8 years, and is currently on the board of the Mid Atalntic EPPC as well as the NC-EPPC.  Lee Patrick is currently the treasurer for SE-EPPC and has been involved with EPPC’s since the early 1990’s. 

Quality Assurance Plan
The biggest step IPC takes to ensure high quality is a strong emphasis on hiring employees working towards or holding a degree in a resource management related field. While the cost per employee is higher, the return on investment is much higher as well.  IPC has found that the quality of the person hired eliminates many common problems in labor management. 

Aside from our hiring policy, quality control is administered through various components of everyday work.  IPC published a book on bid specifications which outlines tough control measures recommended to vendors for invasive plant management projects.  If allowed on a jobsite, IPC implements the following control measures (all are detailed in our employees handbook and ongoing training)