Home »
B.C. provides $213,300 to region to fight invasive plants
The provincial government is providing $213,300 to the East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council and the Regional District of East Kootenay to help control the spread of invasive plants.
“The ongoing battle against invasive plants is something I am personally committed to,” said Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett. “This funding helps in the fight to keep our beautiful province beautiful.”
The funding will be invested in activities such as raising public awareness of invasive plants, surveying invasive plant populations and actively treating high-priority sites to control their spread. The East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council will receive $190,000 and the Regional District of East Kootenay will receive $23,000.
“The East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council would not be in operation without major funding from provincial ministries. EKIPC would like to acknowledge the long-standing partnership with our local MLA, Bill Bennett, who has made a significant contribution in the East Kootenay regarding invasive species management,” said Todd Larsen, Program Manager of the Kootenay Invasive Plant Council.
“Thanks to Mr. Bennett’s dedication, provincial funds allocated to EKIPC in 2014 will be received at an earlier date for more timely treatments. This support allows EKIPC to raise public awareness, coordinate with other organizations, and run operational programs in order to mitigate the impacts of invasive species in the region.
“We look forward to a successful field season and a continued partnership with the Province of B.C.”
Invasive plants are species that have been introduced into B.C. from other areas. They displace our native vegetation and can cause considerable economic and environmental damage, and some pose a health risk to people. Invasive plants may disrupt natural ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, increase soil erosion, alter soil chemistry and adversely affect commercial crops.
The grants to East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council and the Regional District of East Kootenay are two of 29, totaling $1.6 million, which are being distributed province-wide to local governments, regional invasive species committees and the Invasive Species Council of B.C. to assist with their activities and support the objectives of the provincial Invasive Plant Program.
The Invasive Plant Program identifies sites where invasive plant species have been found and responds rapidly to contain and eradicate them before they become established and start spreading.
This funding is in addition to the $809,000 already earmarked by the provincial government for invasive plant control and management in the fiscal 2014-15 year.
Submitted
