Southwest Exotic Mapping Program (SWEMP) Database, 2007

The Southwest Exotic Plant Mapping Program (SWEMP) is a collaborative effort between the United States Geological Survey and federal, tribal, state, county and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners in the southwest. This project is an ongoing effort to compile and distribute regional data on the occurrence of non-native invasive plants in the southwestern United States. The database represents the known sites (represented by a point location, i.e. site) of non-native invasive plant infestations within Arizona and New Mexico, and adjacent portions of California, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. These data, collected from 1911 to 2006, represent the field observations of various state, federal, tribal and county agencies, along with some specimen data from Herbaria. The SWEMP database comprises a compilation of data submitted through 2006.

This dataset was created to provide a regional perspective on non-native invasive plant distributions. It can be used to assist land managers, as well as the public, to review the locations and extent of reported infestations. These data can ultimately help guide management strategies and policies for the control of non-native invasive plant species. All plant species in the database are non-native as defined by the USDA PLANTS database 2007; the extent to which they are invasive has not been determined.

These data are associated with: Thomas, K.A., and P. Guertin. 2007, Southwest Exotic Mapping Program 2007; occurrence summary and maps of select invasive, non-native plants in Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1277 [http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1277/].