By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Invasive species problem in Nanaimo area gets funding boost

Apr 11, 2017 | 4:12 PM

NANAIMO — More support has been thrown behind the longstanding effort of fighting invasive species on the South Coast.

$13,000 from the BC Liberals for the Coastal Invasive Species Committee (CISC) is part of $1.8 million in provincial grants to 31 conservation groups around B.C.

“Collaboration is key to the success of getting ahead of these plants and defending communities from invasive species,” CISC executive director Rachelle McElroy told NanaimoNewsNOW.

She said the money will help the group coordinate education campaigns with local government partners and conservation groups on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast.

“Our cheapest tool in the tool box is of course prevention,” McElroy said. “Generating more awareness out there of the threat of invasive species and their impacts and also teaching people to be able to identify these plants and species that are coming here that aren’t on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.”

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McElroy said prevention is an important key in tackling problematic plants on the mid-island. The worst offenders include giant hogweed, knotweed and wild chervil.

In January, McElroy reported a regional partnership in which mid-island municipalities cover the cost of removing invasive plants grew from six sites in 2014, to more than 100 property owners last year.

She said invasive plants often negatively affect property values, as well as coming at a heavy price for native species. McElroy said a healthy eco-system along a river with low-lying plants, trees and shrubs providing shade allowing fish to survive can be decimated by invasive plants.

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