Nine area residents are getting work experience with a new program combating invasive plants at hundreds of sites in the British Columbia Interior throughout the summer and fall.
The provincial government, in partnership with the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia (ISCBC), is providing nearly $300,000 in Job Creation Partnership funding to help “weed-busters” in 100 Mile House, Williams Lake and Kamloops.
In the Cariboo, the targeted weeds are very much impacting recreation and the cattle industry, said project manager Dave Ralph, who was one of the close to two dozen people in attendance when Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett and Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone made the funding announcement on ranch land at 108 Mile on June 25.
“The concern with invasive plants is they have a profound impact on the economy and resources of the province,” Ralph added.
“Those weed species dramatically reduce available grazing forage, not only for domestic livestock, but for grazing wildlife as well.”
Some of the weed species being primarily targeted throughout the six-month program are spotted knapweed, burdock, dalmatian toadflax and sulphur cinquefoil.
“Invasive species are one of those unique things that don’t belong to anybody, but belong to us all,” said Gail Wallin, ISCBC executive director.
“They don’t only hurt us economically, but they hurt us environmentally.”
Over the course of the project, which ends in December, the participants are expected to treat approximately 200 sites for invasive species and also deliver invasive species awareness seminars to 60 community organizations and 60 schools.
Government and private landowners incur significant costs to repair damage done by invasive species, which are also a nuisance at gravel pits as they can be easily spread when roads are being built.
The announcement was timely as the provincial government declared June as Invasive Species Action Month.
Invasive species are a big problem in B.C, Barnett noted.
“The province is providing more than $300,000 to this project. Funding that will help a group of people gain valuable work experience and make a difference to our community.
“These trainees are gaining skills they need to help control invasive plants that affect our environment and our economy.”
