Forests
NELSON - Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced $30,000 for the Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee today to help reduce the spread and impact of invasive plants on Crown land.
The ministry is providing over $705,000 to invasive plant committees and regional districts to assist in controlling high priority invasive plant species, such as giant hogweed, hoary alyssum and field scabious, and to reduce the spread of others.
This funding builds on the $3 million announced earlier this year for the Invasive Plant Council of BC to create an employment program - called Take Action - that will train and hire up to 150 people to manage invasive plants.
Quick Facts:
An invasive plant is a non-native plant that has been introduced, either intentionally or accidentally, from other areas and is harmful to the environment, economy or animal or human health. Invasive plants:
- Harm the environment by out-competing native plants, altering ecosystems and creating an increased wildfire hazard.
- Affect human health by causing skin irritation, blisters, scarring and severe breathing problems; impact animal health via toxins in some plants that make them inedible or toxic.
- Harm the economy by negatively impacting property and crop values and increasing costs associated with treating infestations on rangelands, gardens, parks or along roadsides.
- Impede recreation by making trails impassable, damaging fishing streams and puncturing tires.
Learn More:
Check out the Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee's website at http://www.kootenayweeds.com/
To find out where invasive plants are known to occur in your area, visit the Invasive Alien Plant Program map display at http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hra/plants/application.htm
To learn more about the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Invasive Plant Program, visit http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hra/plants/index.htm
Identify invasive plants in your area and learn about their negative impacts and find out what you can do to manage them at http://www.weedsbc.ca/
All provincial government agencies involved in managing invasive species, including plants, work collaboratively through the Inter-Ministry Invasive Species Working Group. Learn more at http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hra/invasive-species/index.htm
The Invasive Plant Council of BC brings people and groups together to reduce the negative ecological, social and economic impacts caused by the introduction and spread of invasive plants. Find out more at http://www.invasiveplantcouncilbc.ca/
Media Contacts:
Vivian Thomas
Communications Manager
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-2475
Tom Bradley
President
Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee
250 226-7792
