Since 1985, CEMML has provided high-quality environmental consulting services on public and federal lands across the U.S., its territories, and overseas.
We offer effective and environmentally sound solutions for controlling invasive species and developing/implementing biosecurity procedures. Such measures improve habitats, reduce erosion, help conserve sensitive species, and support other land management objectives.
Areas of Expertise
- Strategic Management Planning: Invasive species management through targeted baseline surveying, mapping, and treatment aligned with client-specific goals.
- Habitat Quality Control & Stabilization: Habitat improvement through vegetation management, erosion control, and soil stabilization.
- Threatened and Endangered Species (TES) Impact Reduction: Management and monitoring of invasive plants and animals that have negative impacts on TES.
- Early Detection Surveys (EDS): Systematic search or monitoring processes aimed at identifying new invasive species populations and eradicating them before they can cause significant environmental harm.
- Rapid Response & Interdiction: Specialized deployment-ready teams trained to conduct swift containment and eradication actions.
- Biosecurity Inspections: Rigorous inspections of cargo, vehicles, and equipment to prevent the movement of biological material, soil, and organisms.
- Programmatic Risk Analysis: Regular assessments of invasive species pathways to determine potential mitigation risks.
- Barrier Maintenance & Control Programs: Physical infrastructure and targeted control measures—including baiting, trapping, and habitat management—designed to protect sensitive areas and species.
Examples of CEMML Project Work
- Guam: We develop quality assurance and biosanitation procedures to verify that incoming cargo is free of biological materials and invasive species such as brown tree snake, little fire ant, and coconut rhinoceros beetle. When detections occur, our rapid response protocols contain and eradicate these species, preventing new incursions and protecting native ecosystems.
- Western United States: We provide strategic invasive species management through targeted surveying, mapping, and treatments, prioritizing early detection and rapid response. Our invasive plant management efforts on federal lands are tailored to land managers’ needs, such as habitat improvement, soil and water conservation, wildfire risk reduction, and conservation of protected wildlife. Invasive species we commonly control include annual grasses such as cheatgrass and red brome; broadleaf weeds such as knapweeds, Canada thistle, leafy spurge and yellow starthistle; and woody invasives such as tamarisk and Russian olive. We also control invasive animals such as the American bullfrog, which threatens listed species like the California tiger salamander and arroyo toad. Notably, we recently identified the first known occurrence of small-flowered honesty (Savigna parviflora) in North America, a species native to North Africa and the Middle East. Management and monitoring efforts aim to eliminate it as a threat to the habitat of native animals such as the Mojave fringe–toed lizard and the desert tortoise.
- Hawaiʻi: We provide monitoring and control of over 40 target incipient and established invasive plant species. We also monitor and control invasive animals including feral goats, sheep, cats, and dogs; black rats; mice; mongoose; and various invertebrates such as ants, aphids, and scales. We construct, monitor, and maintain ungulate exclusion fence units that protect sensitive species and native habitat. Biosecurity activities include inspecting machinery, vehicles and construction materials for soil that could be carrying weed propagules, Argentine ants, little red fire ants and other organisms; and applying sanitation protocols.
Email Invasive Species and Biosecurity Services inquiries to [email protected].
Other CEMML Natural Resources Management Services
Latest CEMML Stories
Honoring military service and advancing U.S. Army Garrison Hawai‘i’s environmental mission
Last month, the U.S. celebrated Military Appreciation Month to recognize and honor the service and sacrifices of past and present military members, as well as their families. Since the mid-1980s, CEMML staff have been in embedded at military installations across the U.S and overseas, including over 100 in Hawai‘i. CEMML’s collaboration with the military community strengthens the military mission, augments resource conservation efforts across the Hawaiian Islands, and supports military members during and after their service.
Through CEMML, young biologist lives her wildlife management dreams in Florida
CEMML’s Desirae Minns spent her childhood catching critters and bugs with aspirations of a life spent wrangling gators. Her passion for the outdoors led to an associate’s degree in math and biological sciences and later a bachelor’s degree in biology. After graduating in 2024, Minns saw a posting for CEMML’s Early-Career Development Program in Florida. She saw it as the perfect opportunity to gain experience and launch her career as a biologist.
CEMML program manager receives award from National Military Fish and Wildlife Association
In April, CEMML’s Lena Schnell was presented with the Military Natural Resource Conservation Research Award for her work at Pōhakuloa Training Area on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Over her 23 years with CEMML in support of PTA, Schnell has developed management programs for federally listed plant and wildlife species that support adaptive management and Endangered Species Act compliance.
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