Image Credit: Government of B.C.

VICTORIA - The provincial government has proclaimed June 9-15, 2014, as "Invasive Species Week" to help raise awareness of the economic and environmental damage that invasive plants and animals can cause if allowed to spread in British Columbia.

British Columbians can get directly involved in halting the introduction and spread of invasive plants by downloading the free "Report-a-Weed" app for iPhones or Android smartphones. The easy-to-use interface allows users to submit reports on invasive plant sightings anywhere in B.C., upload photos of plants they find, and view previously logged sightings.

The B.C. government works closely with the Invasive Species Council of B.C., regional districts, municipalities and community-based organizations throughout British Columbia to help stop the spread of harmful plants and animals. It also provides ongoing financial assistance to invasive species groups to support their work, which includes surveying and mapping invasive species populations and actively treating high-priority sites.

Last month, the B.C. government announced $1.6 million in invasive plants grants for 29 regional districts, municipalities and invasive species organizations. This funding is in addition to the $809,000 already earmarked by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations for invasive plant control and management in 2014-15. 

Since 2012, the B.C. government has provided the Invasive Species Council of B.C. with $2.1 million to help prevent aquatic invasive species from entering B.C. and to support public awareness campaigns and preventative measures, such as the "Clean, Drain, Dry" program for recreational boaters.

In conjunction with national and international partners, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is researching methods to develop new biological control agents to control invasive plant species.

Quick Facts:

* In 2012, the provincial government amended the controlled alien species regulation to further restrict non-native species. For example, invasive zebra or quagga mussels (alive or dead) are not allowed to remain on boats or related equipment. Failure to clean mussels off boats or equipment could result in a fine of up to $100,000.

* The Invasive Plant Program identifies sites where new invasive plant species have been found and responds rapidly to contain and eradicate them before they become established and start spreading.

* Invasive species of concern in B.C. include European fire ants, bullfrogs, eastern grey squirrels, garlic mustard, yellow perch, flowering rush, nutria, knotweed, New Zealand mud snail and marsh plume thistle.

* Other targeted invasive plant species include orange and yellow (non-native) hawkweeds, knapweed, giant hogweed, blueweed, common tansy, tansy ragwort, hoary alyssum, field scabious, leafy spurge, purple loosestrife, yellow flag iris, Himalayan balsam and Scotch broom.

Learn More:

Inter-Ministry Invasive Species Working Group

Factsheet on invasive zebra and quagga mussels

Download the Report-a-Weed app

Clean, Drain and Dry program

News from © iNFOnews, 2014