ABSTRACT:

Conservation plans and invasive species management are generally executed at the scale of independent jurisdictions. However, the important ecological processes and biodiversity to be protected from invasions often occur over large spatial scales and across multiple jurisdictions, creating a need for cooperative management. To understand how entities address cross-boundary management challenges, and which variables allow for success or failure, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Interviewees included employees from federal, county and state agencies, research organizations, nonprofits and local stakeholder groups in two national parks and their surrounding lands in California, USA. Interviews consisted of 26 questions that inquired about the effects of jurisdictional boundaries on non-native invasive species ecology and collaborative management. Participants were selected based on their involvement in non-native invasive species management within two study areas which included Lassen Volcanic, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and surrounding lands. Interviews lasting 22-105 minutes were conducted by telephone in August-November 2019. With the consent of interviewees, the interview conversations were recorded on a cell-phone and computer. After the interviews were completed, they were transcribed verbatim. Analysis of the interview data involved generating themes from the interview questions using a process of coding in ATLAS.ti, a qualitative analysis computer software program.