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Texas Gulf Region
Cooperative Weed Management Area
The Texas Gulf Coast Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) was established in 2014 by the City of Port Aransas and initial partners the Texas A&M Forest Service and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The mission of this CWMA is to address invasive Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolious) from Port O'Connor to the Padre Island National Seashore on the Texas Gulf Coast.
CWMA Boundary Map as of 2024
The Texas Gulf Region CWMA is a voluntary network of public and private stakeholders that are concerned with the management of Brazilian peppertree. The CWMA seeks to prevent the spread and movement of the species by advocating for cooperative control amongst willing landowners and managers.
What is the Issue?
Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolious) is a non-native, invasive species in Texas. It is native to Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. It was introduced in the 1800s in Florida as a landscape ornamental prior to be recognized as being a nuisance weed in the 1950s. Once sold as an ornamental in Texas, its importation, sale and distribution are now prohibited in Texas and several other states. The species was first reported in 2003 by trained citizen scientists, it has now spread along the entire Texas Coastline. To view submitted observations please click here.
Brazilian peppertree invades disturbed areas such as fallow fields, ditches, drained wetlands and roadsides. As infestations grow, they quickly form dense thickets, shading out native grasses, shrubs, and taking over native grasslands, tidal flats and other habitats. These thickets exclude most other vegetation forming mono-cultural landscapes which are unattractive to native wildlife. This species is considered one of the greatest threats to biodiversity for its dramatic effect on both plant and animal communities.
Who We Are
We are a collective group of local, county, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, university researchers and community representatives who have come together to fight Brazilian peppertree on Texas' Gulf Coast. The CWMA serves Aransas, Calhoun and Nueces Counties.
For a complete list of cooperators, please click here.
Texas Gulf Region CWMA Kick-off Meeting Participants
What is the CWMA doing?
Education and Outreach
Raising awareness of Brazilian peppertree impacts to our landscapes and sensitive coastal habitats is a main priority of the CWMA. The group regularly hosts public open houses and participates in community events to raise Brazilian peppertree awareness.
CWMA Door-to-Door Community Outreach Event
Get Involved!
To get involved in the fight against Brazilian peppertree, attend the next meeting or join the next community workday please email gulfregioncwma@texasinvasives.org.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Linktree to stay up-to-date on local conservation-focused topics and our latest endeavors!
Upcoming CWMA Events:
Eat the Invasives' Dinner
November 11th 5:30-8:00pm
Fins Grill & Icehouse
420 W Cotter Avenue, Port Aransas, TX
The CWMA would like to formally invite you to a free, fun community event where conservation meets cuisine.
Space is limited. REGISTER Soon.
February 20,2025- CWMA Volunteer Workday: Planting Native Trees, Port Aransas Nature Preserve, Port Aransas, TX
February 20-23, 2025- CWMA Table @ 2025 Whooping Crane Festival
June 1st, 2024- CWMA Table @ 2024 Texas General Land Office Coastal Roundup
February 22, 2024- Spring Meeting and Volunteer Tree Planting Workday (Paradise Pond), Port Aransas
October 20, 2023- Fall Meeting and Brazilian peppertree removal workday, Port Aransas
February 23, 2023 - Meeting and Brazilian peppertree removal workday, Port Aransas
February 24-26, 2023 - Whooping Crane Festival
February 24, 2022 - Meeting and Brazilian peppertree removal workday, Port Aransas
November 10, 2022 - Fall Meeting and Brazilian peppertree removal workday, Port Aransas
February 16 & 19, 2021 - Spring Meeting and Brazilian peppertree removal workday, Port Aransas
February 20-23, 2020 - Whooping Crane Festival
February 24, 2022 - Meeting and Brazilian peppertree removal workday, Port Aransas
February 18, 2020 - Work party
October 23, 2019 - Work party
February 21-24, 2019 - Whooping Crane Festival
February 20, 2019 - Chainsaw Operation workshop
February 19, 2019 - Invaders of Texas citizen science training workshop
October 22, 2018 - Work party
February 22-25, 2018 - Whooping Crane Festival
February 21, 2018 - Work party
February 23-27, 2017 - Whooping Crane Festival
February 22, 2017 - Work party
February 20, 2017 - Tree Safety and Tree Planting workshops
November 8, 2016 - Work party
October 5, 2016 - Work party
February 26-28, 2016 - Whooping Crane Festival
February 24, 2016 - Work party
October 1, 2015 - Work party
September 30, 2015 - Eat the Invasives
February 19-22, 2015 - Whooping Crane Festival
February 17, 2015 - Mustang Island State Park Workday
October 2, 2014 - Informational Open House, Flyer
October 1, 2014 - CWMA Neighborhood Outreach
July 17, 2014 - Invaders of Texas Citizen Scientist Workshop
July 16, 2014 - CWMA Member Workday
June 7, 2014 - World Ocean's Day at UT Marine Science Institute
April 23-24, 2014 - Texas Bays and Estuaries Meeting
April 12, 2014 - Earth Day Bay Day
February 25, 2014 - Informational Open House
February 26, 2014 - Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference
February 28, 2014 - Brazilian Peppertree Biology & Management Field Tour
CWMA Community Open House Event
Establishing Baseline Distribution Data
To better understand the distribution of Brazilian peppertree, the CWMA has established and mapped the baseline distribution of peppertrees. We are currently (2020) working on a project with a graduate student to use drone and AI technology to create an updated map of the distribution of peppertree in the Port Aransas Nature Preserves.
To view observations of peppertrees submitted by volunteer Invaders of Texas citizen scientists, please click here.
Control Treatments
The CWMA has been developing and implementing treatment projects to address Brazilian peppertree within the area. Treatment locations will be determined using collected observation data and treated using identified best management practices.
Upcoming Control Events:
TBA
February 23, 2023- Brazilian peppertree removal workday, Port Aransas
Photo: CWMA.
February 24, 2022- Brazilian peppertree removal workday, Port Aransas
Photo: Kylee N. Kleiner, Twisted trunk of Brazilian peppertree.
April 2021- Brazilian peppertree removal workday, Port Aransas
Photo: Ashley Morgan-Olvera, Texas Gulf Region worker spraying herbicide on cut trunks of Brazilian pepper trees.
October 23, 2019 - Removing Brazilian peppertree in Port Aransas.
Photo: Dr. Hans Landel, Texasinvasvies.org/Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center/TIPPC.
Photo: Dr. Hans Landel, Texasinvasvies.org/Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center/TIPPC
February 19, 2015 - City of Port Aransas Right-of-Way Removal
Photo: Justin Bush, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
February 17, 2015 - Mustang Island State Park Workday
Photo: Kendal Keyes, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Photo: Nina Cardenas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
February 8, 2015 - The City of Port Aransas and City of Port Aransas Volunteer Fire Department held a 56 acre prescribed burn at Charlie's Pasture Nature Preserve. The burn targeted Brazilian peppertrees and sought to promote native species.
Photos: Justin Bush, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
July 16, 2014 - The City of Port Aransas and Texas Gulf Region CWMA partners held a member workday to control Brazilian peppertree near highway 361. In the collaborative control event, 2 gross acres of Brazilian peppertree were removed.
Photo: Kendal Keyes, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Photo: Kendal Keyes, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
February 25, 2014 - At Charlie's Pasture Nature Preserve, over 75 community volunteers and agency cooperators worked together to control 48 gross acres of Brazilian peppertree.
Texas A&M Forest Service saw crews fell peppertrees, which were removed by volunteers and loaded onto trailers to be chipped off-site.
Photo: Dr. Ron Billings, Texas A&M Forest Service
Photo: Dr. Ron Billings, Texas A&M Forest Service
Restoring the Landscape
In order to restore the landscape after removal of the Brazilian peppertree infestations, the CWMA is working to restore and enhance treated areas. When possible, native species will be introduced to replace the removed invasive trees.
Whenever possible, native species should be used in home landscapes. Potential non-invasive alternatives to Brazilian peppertree include:
Soapbush, Guajacum angustifolium
Prarie Acacia, Acaciella angustissima [formerly Acacia angustissima]
Guajillo, Senegalia berlandieri [formerly Acacia berlandieri]
Great leadtree, Leucaena pulverulenta
February 24, 2014 - Agenda, Minutes
April 24, 2014 - Agenda, Minutes
July 16, 2014 - Agenda, Minutes
October 2, 2014 - Agenda, Minutes
February 18, 2015 - Agenda, Minutes
September 29, 2015 – Agenda, Minutes
February 23, 2016 – Agenda, Minutes
October 6, 2016 – Agenda, Minutes
February 22, 2017 – Agenda, Minutes
October, 2017 – Cancelled due to Hurricane Harvey
February 21, 2018 – Agenda, Minutes
October 22, 2018 – Agenda, Minutes
February 21, 2019 – Agenda, Minutes
October 23, 2019 – Agenda, Minutes
February 18, 2020 – Agenda, Minutes
CWMA Resources
Brazilian Peppertree Control Factsheet
Brazilian Peppertree-free Yard Sign
Texas Gulf Region CWMA One Page Fact-sheet
Texas Gulf Coast CWMA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Port Aransas Nature Preserve Brazilian Pepper Control Plan
Brazilian Peppertree Identification Brochure
Texas Gulf Coast CWMA Informational PowerPoint Presentation, PDF
Texas A&M Forest Service Brazilian Peppertree Poster
PORT A – Tackling the Brazilian Peppertree Together (2024-7-25)
Port Aransas South Jetty - Picking off pepper trees (2023-03-01)
Port Aransas South Jetty - Fire scorches grassland at Port A nature preserve (2023-01-18)
Port Aransas South Jetty - Pepper tree removal (2022-04-13)
USDA- Thrips Show Promise in Controlling the Invasive Brazilian Peppertree in Florida (2022-10-12)
Port Aransas South Jetty - Now is time to get rid of pepper trees (2021-04-14)
Port Aransas South Jetty - Pepper tree removal continues (2018-10-3)
Living on the Edge - CBBEP Provides Boost for Texas Gulf Region Cooperative Weed Management Area (2015-10-1)
Texasinvasives.org iWire Email Newsletter (2014-08-29)
Texasinvasives.org iWire Email Newsletter (2014-02-28)
Texasinvasives.org iWire Email Newsletter (2014-01-30)
