Rachelle McElroy, BSc., MSLS Executive Director Invasive Species - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Efficient Cooperative Management of Invasive Plants in the Sunshine Coast

Rachelle McElroy, BSc., MSLS Executive Director

Invasive Species Review

• Non-native, no natural

predators, establish quickly, competitive

• Negative impacts
• Public health
• Environment
• Economic

Paul A. Graham

Lamiastrum galeobdolon (Yellow archangel)

• Defn.: Alien Invasive

Species (AIS)

• Causing harm

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%

• f 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,
• bstructing 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

• Reduce yields by 10-15%, act as hosts

for crop diseases

• Lose up to 75% of grazing
• Cost of control measures
• Compete with seedlings for light,

nutrients and water

Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)

Tansy Ragwort (Sen

enec ecio j ac acobae aea)

Economic Impacts

Species Annual Damages (Can $ Millions) 2008 2020 Eurasian Watermilfoil 1 5 Scotch Broom 3 8 Cheatgrass 10 15 Diffuse Knapweed 18 23 Purple Loosestrife 20 28 Hawkweed 13 60 Total 65 139 Total area invaded (ha) Dalmatian Toadflax 9250 123400

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:

Weed Bylaws

Policeman’s Helmet (impatiens glandulifera)

Good Neighbour

• “Invasive plants know

no boundaries”

• Collaborative and

consistent invasive plant management between neighbouring jurisdictions is an effective approach

Yellow Flag Iris (Iris 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. 1st) 2013 – Training with Parks/Infrastructure (Feb. 13th) 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

• Ministry of Forests, Lands

and Natural Resource Operations

– Forests and Range Practices Act (FRPA) – Forest Investment Account (FIA) Standards

• Ministry of Agriculture

– 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

Federal Legislation

• Canada Food Inspection

Agency

• Plant Protection Act
• Seeds Act

English ivy (Hedera helix)

• The main legislation pertaining to invasive plants is

currently held by the provincial government. The ministries and the links to their legislation are listed on the previous page.

• Also included is the federal legislation governing the

approval and importation of biocontrol agents into Canada.

• For a thorough listing and explanation of legislation

pertaining to invasive plants in BC, please see the Invasive Plant Council of BC's report - A Legislative Guidebook to Invasive Plant Management in BC

• Multiple agencies and governments controlling invasive

plants and adjoining land parcels.

2011 Update to Weed Control Act

Section 2 of the Weed Control Act states “In accordance with the regulations, an occupier must control noxious weeds growing or located on land and premises, and

• n any other property located on

land and premises, occupied by that person.”

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Summary and Conclusion

• Weeds know no boundaries (management cannot be resolved in isolation)
• Impacts are diverse (biodiversity, health, infrastructure, agriculture)
• Costs will continue to increase over time; opportunities to control decrease
• ver time. (EDRR)
• Pooling of existing resources and coordination improves overall management

and capacity

• Need to be strategic – can’t do it all!
• Prioritize inventory and control
• Educate public
• Prevent new IP introductions
• Effectively address SCRD’s invasive plant needs

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For more information please visit www.coastalinvasiveplants.com Thank You!