Small federal parks are faced with several concerns: 1) they must protect their natural resources, cultural displays, and museum collections from a multitude of pest species, 2) they must control these pests, in most cases, without chemical pesticides (especially those deemed as harmful to the environment), and 3) they must determine the most appropriate management strategy, usually with little biological background or training (most employees of small federal parks are well versed in history with limited training in biology). The overall goals of a small federal park parallel those of IPM or integrated pest management. The goal of any IPM program, which integrates ecological approaches to preventing or reducing unacceptable pest presence or damage, is to manage pests in an economically feasible, environmentally friendly, and sociologically acceptable manner. Because small federal parks are usually limited in manpower and resources, they are generally unable to quickly and effectively deal with pest outbreaks. Thus, adequate IPM plans are necessary to ensure appropriate and timely management of pests, especially problematic exotic species. IPM plans were developed for several small federal parks at various sites throughout the southeastern U. S. These IPM plans address pesticide safety and documentation, as well as management strategies for specific pest problems. Implementation of these IPM plans in small federal parks will enable personnel to better manage pest problems while more efficiently utilizing their limited resources and time. A more important benefit is the protection and preservation of park resources for the enjoyment and education of current and future generations.
Keywords: IPM, exotic species
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