State Parks, DNR employee honored by invasives management group

Indiana State Parks were recently honored with the Partner of the Year award by State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM) at the Indiana Invasives Species Conference at Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park.

SICIM is a nonprofit whose mission is to protect, restore, and enhance Indiana's landscape by coordinating efforts to identify, prevent, and control invasive species (sicim.info).

At the conference, SICIM highlighted cooperative invasive species management areas (CISMAs), partners, and individuals who have gone above and beyond in their hard work and dedication to SICIM, their CISMAs, and communities throughout Indiana.

Indiana State Parks was awarded for placing significant emphasis on invasive species eradication. Last year, Indiana State Parks managed 12,000 acres for invasives removal and habitat diversity improvement, using tools such as prescribed fire, invasive removal contracts, and seasonal invasive removal crews, as well as Weed Wrangles® in partnership with SICIM.

Will Drews, a nursery inspector and compliance officer with the DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology, a SICIM board member for nine years, and the organization's chair from 2019-2023, was honored with a departing board member award. During his tenure, Drews provided technical assistance to SICIM employees and various CISMAs and served on several SICIM committees. He previously served as the board's vice chair and secretary.

"Will has been a key part of moving SICIM to the successful organization it is today," said Teena Ligman, the current SICIM secretary.

For more information on invasive species please visit dnr.IN.gov/rules-and-regulations/invasive-species.

To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.