Building capacity to manage noxious and invasive weeds in the southwestern United States

New Mexico State University and the University of Arizona sent a comprehensive evaluation survey called Southwestern Noxious/Invasive Weed Short Course in April 2009 in order to increase awareness of invasive weed impacts. Each topic offered at the Short Course is presented within the framework and utility of applying integrated weed management (IWM) approaches to deal with invasive plants. An evaluation survey was administered following a derivation of the widely recognized total design methodology. The respondents represented a wide variety of land managers from 19 different organizations or entities who were attempting to manage invasive weeds on both private and public land. The results of study showed that the overwhelming majority of respondents increased their awareness and knowledge of the negative impacts of invasive weeds as a result of attending the Short Course. The survey results indicate that the Short Course's theme of couching management techniques within the context of IWM was very important.