The province has committed funding to try to deal with invasive plants in B.C.
The Municipality of North Cowichan will receive $15,000, and the Coastal Invasive Species Committee is getting $10,000 to help control and eradicate invasive plants.
Overall, the province is dedicating a total of $2.89 million to 33 projects in an an effort to deal with the issue.
Debra Toporowski, MLA for Cowichan Valley, said invasive species directly harm local populations of plant and animal species, and can be extremely difficult to control.
“This funding means North Cowichan can continue to fight the invasive plants that hurt our community and environment,” she said.
Invasive plants can disrupt ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, increase soil erosion, impact water quality, and pose a threat to the province’s agriculture and tourism industries.
They can also pose a health risk to people and animals.
Dana Lajeunesse, MLA for Juan de Fuca-Malahat, said the Coastal Invasive Species Committee does great work to address the impact of invasive species in their communities, which when left untreated, can harm people, plants, and animals throughout B.C.
“Thanks to this funding, they will have more support to continue their work to support people though engagement, outreach, education, in our community and across B.C.’s coasts,” he said.
Some of the targeted invasive plant species in B.C. include Scotch broom, poison hemlock, giant hogweed, blueweed, and yellow flag iris.
People can report invasive plant sightings using the Report Invasives BC app, or online at www.gov.bc.ca/invasive-species.
