Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
KAMLOOPS - The B.C. government is providing $20,000 to the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to help manage invasive plants in the region, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake announced today.
Thirty-one grants, totalling $1.8 million, are being distributed throughout the province in 2017 to local governments, regional invasive species committees, environmental organizations and the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia. This funding will assist with their ongoing activities and also support the objectives of the provincial Invasive Plant Program.
The money will be used to help raise public awareness of invasive plant concerns, survey invasive plant populations and actively treat high-priority sites to control the spread of these destructive plants.
Invasive plants are species that have been introduced into British Columbia from other areas. They displace native vegetation and can cause considerable economic and environmental damage. Some pose a health risk to people (e.g., skin irritation) and others are toxic to animals.
Invasive plants can disrupt natural ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, increase soil erosion, alter soil chemistry and adversely affect commercial crops.
The B.C. government’s annual invasive plant grant program builds on the immediate investments and long-term action plan outlined in B.C.’s Rural Economic Development Strategy, which are expected to create over 26,000 jobs and add $2.8 billion to the provincial GDP.
As part of Balanced Budget 2017, government is providing $10 million in 2017-18 to support new land management initiatives throughout B.C., including range fencing repairs and multi-year invasive plant management projects with partners such as regional weed committees, the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association and Ducks Unlimited.
Providing leadership for invasive plant management is one of the ways that the B.C. government is taking action to strengthen, grow and diversify rural communities.