NWIPC Partnerships

The Invasive Plant Problem: Why and

How We Need to Partner
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Fraser Fort George Regional District Council Meeting

Andrea Eastham, NWIPC Program Manager

 NWIPC Partnerships

• Why should we care about invasives?

• What is NWIPC and how do we operate?
• How can we partner?
 What’s the big deal?
Oxeye Daisy • Spread of invasive plant
Infestation
species is the second
biggest threat to
biodiversity after
urban expansion.
• Once infested, many
sites can never be
restored.
The bad news…

• Environmental impacts
– Native grasses, wildflowers and
endangered species destroyed
• Economic impacts on
– Forestry
– Agriculture
– Utilities and transportation
– Recreation and tourism
• Harm human and animal
health
– Not eaten by animals
– Poisonous or thorny
Environmental Impacts

•Loss of biodiversity
Native grasses, wildflowers and
endangered species destroyed

•Loss of wildlife habitat

7 rare plants eliminated by Knapweed in
3 years in Glacier National Park
Reduce elk winter forage by 50-90%

•Loss of water quality and fish

habitat
Runoff increased 56% and stream
sedimentation 192% due to Spotted
Knapweed
 Forestry

Invasive Plants…
•Raise wildfire hazard

•Increase soil erosion and stream

sedimentation

•Suppress forest regeneration

•Damage young trees and seedlings

•Restrictions on movement of trucks and

equipment on known sites
 Agriculture

•Knapweed caused $42 million

damage in Manitoba

•Leafy Spurge caused $129

million damage in four northern
US states

•Direct toxic effects on livestock

such as leafy spurge and tansy

•Expense to producers for

50% loss of forage on treatment of land for invasives
some BC grazing lands
•Economic losses in BC have not
– lost value exceeds been calculated but they are in
$30 million/year the millions of dollars annually
 Human Health and Safety

Toxic Leafy spurge skin burns and

Nightshade blindness
Berries
Common tansy toxic and skin
irritations
Create impassable barriers
Poison Ivy Blisters Hay fever and allergies

Giant Hogweed - Skin

Burns

Corridor Site Lines

 NWIPC Goals

The Northwest Invasive Plant Council strives to

prevent and control the spread of invasive alien
plant species in northwestern BC.

The goal is to prevent further damage to the

ecosystems of northwest BC from invasive alien
plants and begin to rehabilitate ecosystems that
have been degraded by invasive alien plants
7 IPMAS – RDFFG is in the Prince
George and Robson Valley
 Who is NWIPC?

• Non-profit society; board of directors

• Approximately 500 Members
• Twenty-plus Partners
• 6 First Nation Partnerships
• Single-point IP management
• Your weed committee as per the provincial
Weed Act

WEEDS KNOW NO BOUNDARIES !!!!!

 How does NWIPC work?

• Running our program costs $250,000

• Apply for outside funding for projects
• On-the-ground IP work from Partners is about ½
million dollars annually (pooled)
• Hire IPMA contractors in each area
• Means we treat regardless of jurisdiction
• Partner dollars are used to manage adjacent
areas with no funding

WEEDS KNOW NO BOUNDARIES !!!!!

 Pooled-fund Partners in 2008

Ministry of Forests and Range

Ministry of Transportation (MOT)
Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako
District C Farmer's Institute
British Columbia Transmission Corporation
Canadian National Railway
Pacific National Gas
Town of Smithers
City of Prince George
District of Houston
Village of Valemount
Thomson Creek Mining Ltd. (Endako Mine)
Kinder-Morgan (TMX-Anchor Loop Project)
Carrier Lumber
 Information and Potted Weeds
Display

Funded
Projects

Invasive Plant Management Training Community Weed Pulls

 How Can We Partner?

• $$$$$$
• Help promote IP education, awareness
and reporting of sites
• Be a voice through membership in the
strategic plan and annual business plan
• Support our local contractor

WEEDS KNOW NO BOUNDARIES !!!!!

 Summary

• Invasive plants are costing us money and

this will increase
• NWIPC is your weed committee and
growing in partners
• We want and need the Fraser Fort George
Regional District to become an active
partner in the NWIPC

WEEDS KNOW NO BOUNDARIES !!!!!