Efficient Cooperative Management of Invasive Plants in the Sunshine Coast Rachelle McElroy, BSc., MSLS Executive Director
Invasive Species Review • Defn.: Alien Invasive • Non-native, no natural Species (AIS) predators, establish quickly, competitive • Causing harm Paul A. Graham • Negative impacts • Public health • Environment • Economic Lamiastrum galeobdolon (Yellow archangel )
What is an invasive plant? • Non-native • Alien - refers to originating outside of BC or Canada (depending on who is using the term) • Non-native/exotic/ introduced plant species (originating from a different province in Canada or from a different country or continent) • MoFR uses it to refer to out-of-province • Federal Government uses it to refer to out-of-country • No natural predator present to regulate introduced populations • Highly aggressive, adaptive characteristics • Establish quickly and easily on new sites • Negative impacts to humans, animals, ecosystems and natural resource industries • Often difficult to control: • Often perennial, high seed production, capable of spreading by seed (once or twice per year), vegetative re-growth • Effective means of dispersal (burrs/wings/seed pod projection, etc) • Long seed life (dormancy in soil of up to 70 yrs with some species!) • Sometimes release toxins into soil that prevent the growth of other plants; release toxins through stems/leaves/berries that are toxic to humans/animals if ingested or touched • What is a noxious weed? • a plant designated as noxious by the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Land’s Weed Act • What is a weed? • General term used to refer to any plant a person may find undesirable • May refer to the above species but may not
TOP 10 REASONS for Local Government to Get Involved in Cooperative Management of Invasive Alien Species
Biodiversity Invasive species are the second largest threat to biodiversity on the planet (Conservation Union, 1998) In BC it is estimated that 25% of our endangered species, 31% of our threatened species, and 16% of our species of special concern are negatively impacted by invasive alien species (Voller and McNay 2007)
Property Value • Severe invasive plant infestations can depress property value Especially if you are a farmer, located on the waterfront or have a concrete foundation • Increase maintenance costs to public parks Increased maintenance costs to public parks and private property, devaluing real estate. For example, due to the explosion of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), Manitoba has experienced a $30 million reduction in land values (Source: Invasive Alien Plants in Canada Summary Report by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Giant Knotweed (Fallopia sachalenensis)
Recreation • Damaging Habitat • Reducing Aesthetics • Impacting Visitor Enjoyment Recreation (highlight how ‘established’ IP impact recreation) SCRD natural environment supports a wealth of recreational activities including fishing, hiking, horseback riding, bird watching, wildlife viewing, camping, mountain biking and picnicking. • Invasive plants can impact all of these activities by damaging habitat, impacting fish and wildlife, obstructing trails, puncturing tires, visitor enjoyment and reducing aesthetics.
Human Health and Safety • Toxic sap (burns) • Allergen (respiratory) • Poisonous berries (illness/death) Human Health and Safety Invasive plants directly affect human health and safety in many ways. • Giant Hogweed (Toxic sap) Blisters and long term burns • Spurge laurel berries are poisonous. • Scotch Broom (allergens) • ALSO..IP affect rights-of-way and transportation corridors when rapidly establishing IP decrease access to equipment and structures,
Range, Agriculture and Forestry Spotted Knapweed ( Centaurea maculosa ) • Reduce yields by 10-15%, act as hosts for crop diseases • Lose up to 75% of grazing Tansy Ragwort ( Sen aea ) enec ecio j ac acobae • Cost of control measures • Compete with seedlings for light, nutrients and water
Economic Impacts Annual Damages Species (Can $ Millions) 2008 2020 1 5 Eurasian Watermilfoil 3 8 Scotch Broom 10 15 Cheatgrass 18 23 Diffuse Knapweed 20 28 Purple Loosestrife 13 60 Hawkweed 65 139 Total Total area invaded (ha) 9250 123400 Dalmatian Toadflax
Fire Hazard and Invasion Scotch Broom ( Cytisus scoparius) Purple loosestrife ( Lyt hr hrum um salicaria )
Compliance with Regulation BC Legislation for Invasive Plant Management • BC Weed Control Act Municipal Legislation • Community Charter: Policeman’s Helmet Weed Bylaws (impatiens glandulifera )
Good Neighbour • “Invasive plants know no boundaries” • Collaborative and consistent invasive plant management between neighbouring jurisdictions is an Yellow Flag Iris (Iris effective approach pseudacoris)
What is being done to stop the spread?…
Work is being done Provincially • 17 Regional Weed Committees in BC • Inter- Ministry Working Group • Noxious Weed Act • Forest and Range Act • Community Charter Local Government Act • • Invasive Alien Plant Program Database
Work is being done Regionally Est. 2005 Non Profit Society Mission: Take a leadership role to reduce the negative impacts of invasive alien species Activities: Education, Outreach, Collaborate, Advise, Management and Support Partners: All levels of government, non profit organizations, academic institutions, concerned individuals
Management Area FACTS: • 9 Regional Districts • 34 Municipalities • 57 First Nation Groups FUNDING: • Ministry of Transportation Ministry of Forests • Lands and Natural Resource Operations • BC Hydro • Fortis BC Local Government • • Invasive Species Council of BC
What is being done to stop the spread in the Sunshine Coast?
Work is being done locally Meetings/Training Sessions: 2010 – SC Stakeholder Meeting 2011 – Special Planning and Development Meeting 2011 - SCRD becomes part of Coastal ISC management area 2012 – Community Engagement (Aug. 1 st ) 2013 – Training with Parks/Infrastructure (Feb. 13 th ) Inventory and Treatment by Coastal ISC and MoFR: 2007 - Inventory in SCRD (MoFR) 2010 – Treatment (mechanical /Chemical) and inventory in SCRD (Coastal ISC and MFLNRO)
Sunshine Coast Priorities
Sunshine Coast Untreated Sites Dec 2011 Invasive Plant Estimated Area Occurrence Scotch broom (CYTI SCO) 25.4800 148 Himalayan blackberry (RUBU ARM) 20.8799 242 Hairy cat's-ear (HYPO RAD) 8.7244 162 Oxeye daisy (LEUC VUL) 2.6450 48 Japanese knotweed (FALL JAP) 1.6391 93 English ivy (HEDE HEL) 0.8280 16 St. John's wort/ Goatweed (HYPE PER) 0.5148 79 Field bindweed (CONV ARV) 0.3283 21 Butterfly bush (BUDD DAV) 0.2579 33 Bull thistle (CIRS VUL) 0.1334 41 Canada thistle (CIRS ARV) 0.1163 28 Curled dock (RUME CRI) 0.1155 32 Common tansy (TANA VUL) 0.0919 22 Tansy ragwort (SENE JAC) 0.0806 14 Orange hawkweed (HIER AUR) 0.0700 21 Common hawkweed (HIER VUL) 0.0515 7 Mullein (VERB THA) 0.0407 15 Meadow hawkweed (HIER CAE) 0.0255 2 Dalmatian toadflax (LINA DAL) 0.0170 2 Yellow iris (IRIS PSE) 0.0150 1 Annual sow thistle (SONC OLE) 0.0142 4 Sowthistle species (SONC SPP) 0.0130 11 Burdock species (ARCT SPP) 0.0113 9 Spotted Knapweed (CENT BIE) 0.0040 1 Bur chervil (ANTH CAU) 0.0020 1 Giant hogweed (HERA MAN) 0.0010 1 Hawkweed species (HIER SPP) 0.0008 1 Yellow/common toadflax (LINA VUL) 0.0001 1 Totals 62.1012 1056
What are the Gaps? • Establishing goal(s) for invasive plant management in the Sunshine Coast • Education/outreach to the community • Inventory and Action Plan • Common Voice on Herbicide treatment – What would that look like? Start with stem-injection (glyphosate) of Japanese Knotweed • Preservation of traditional foods/fish/plants and archeology sites ($ Indian and Northern Affairs) • Local advisory committee/CISC sub-committee
Tools for moving forward • Regional Weed Committee (Coastal ISC) • Partnership Delivery • Local Government Toolkit for IPM • BMPs • Fact Sheets
Legislation of Invasive Plants in BC Provincial Legislation Federal Legislation • Ministry of Forests, Lands • Canada Food Inspection and Natural Resource Operations Agency – Forests and Range Practices Act (FRPA) – Forest Investment Account (FIA) Standards • Plant Protection Act • Ministry of Agriculture • Seeds Act – Weed Control Act • Ministry of Community, Sports and Cultural Development – Community Charter – Local Government Act – Dike Maintenance Act • Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas – Pipeline Act • Ministry of Environment – Integrated Pest Management Act (IPMA) • Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure – Transportation Act English ivy (Hedera helix)
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