The CEMIST mission is to leverage the invasive species prevention work of our state and local partners through Education, Outreach, Advocacy, and rural communities. Background:
The Central and Eastern Montana Invasive Species Team (CEMIST) is a voluntary group that strives to create collaborative partnerships with local, regional, state, and federal organizations to address invasive species is
sues. Although it has federal and state partners, the group has a regional focus on an underserved area. It is comprised of representatives from several Conservation Districts, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), various watershed groups, and Montana Invasive Species Council (MISC) members. The purpose of CEMIST is to protect and preserve the economy and natural resources of Central and Eastern Montana from current and future invasive species threats. Priority invasive species include feral swine, aquatic invasive species (AIS), woody invasive trees (i.e. salt cedar, Russian olive, & common buckthorn), eastern heath snail and annual invasive grasses. CEMIST achieves its mission by increasing local awareness of all invasive species with its own information and by utilizing material from its partners. Specifically, CEMIST works with the Department of Natural Resource and Conservation (DNRC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Montana Association of Conservation Districts (MACD), and National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), as well as several local MSU Extension offices. At a more local level, the group also partners with the Musselshell River Cooperative Weed Management group and is working towards getting more involvement from local weed districts. This integration of various organizations results in a unified message being delivered to the public, regardless of its source. Purpose
Protect and preserve the economy and natural resources in Central and Eastern Montana from current and future invasive species threats. Mission
Our mission is to leverage the invasive species prevention work of our state and local partners through education, outreach, advocacy and rural connections.
