MLA John Rustad has announced $155,000 for the Northwest Invasive Plant Council that will help reduce the spread and impact of invasive plants on Crown land.
Invasive plants harm the environment by out-competing native plants, altering ecosystems and creating an increased wildfire hazard. They also affect human health by causing skin irritation, blisters, scarring and severe breathing problems; impact animal health via toxins in some plants that make them inedible or toxic.
This funding will stop northern expansion of high risk invasive plant species which means the containment of marsh plume thistle, and field scabious.
The funding builds on the $3 million announced earlier this year for the Invasive Plant Council of BC to create an employment program – called Take Action – that will train and hire up to 150 people to manage invasive plants.
“Invasive plants might just seem like weeds, but they can negatively impact our forests, water quality, and local agriculture. Stopping the spread of these species will help keep our local ecosystems thriving,” said Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad in a press release.