The Government of British Columbia is providing $1,134,500 in grants to help manage the spread of invasive plants in the Kootenay and Columbia Shuswap regions, Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall and Kootenay West MLA Katrine Conroy announced on behalf of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Minister Doug Donaldson.

In an effort to eradicate a growing population of gypsy moths and minimize the risks they pose to forests, farms, orchards and trees, 94 hectares near Courtenay are planned for an aerial spray beginning in early May until June 30, 2018.

Under the BC Rural Dividend Program, the Government of British Columbia is providing $100,000 to the Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC), Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, announced today.

Following a year impacted by wildfire, flooding and invasive species, farmers and ranchers around the province can recover some of their lost income with the Government of British Columbia’s new AgriStability Enhancement Program.

Significant progress is being made to manage invasive plant species in the Thompson-Nicola region, as part of a $2.2-million pilot project that began this spring and will continue into 2020.

Fussee Lake and New Lake in the East Kootenays have been closed to sport fishing until further notice due to the illegal introduction of invasive fish species, including largemouth bass (Fussee Lake) and yellow perch (New Lake).

The B.C. government has proclaimed May 2017 as “Invasive Species Action Month” to help raise awareness of invasive plants and animals in British Columbia and to highlight the environmental and economic damage they can cause.

The provincial government is providing $298,000 to the Northwest Invasive Plant Council to help manage invasive plants in the Prince George region announced local MLAs Shirley Bond and Mike Morris.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has been issued a pesticide use permit to aerial-spray 182 hectares of residences, park and farm land around Elk Lake in Saanich with a spray approved for use on organic farms, to eradicate a growing population of gypsy moth and minimize the risk they pose to forests, farms, orchards and trees.