Funds are being planted in the North Okanagan in the fight against invasive species.
The provincial government is providing $36,800 to the Regional District of North Okanagan to help control the spread of invasive plants.
The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society is also receiving $13,300 and the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District has been granted $20,000.
“Invasive plants degrade the integrity of our natural environment and have a damaging impact on our agriculture industry,” said Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster.
“This funding will support the ongoing battle to stop the spread of noxious weeds in the North Okanagan.”
The grants 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.
These are some of 31 grants, totalling $1,727,000, that are being distributed throughout the province in 2016 to local governments, regional invasive species committees and the Invasive Species Council of B.C.
This funding will assist with these groups’ ongoing activities and also support the objectives of the provincial Invasive Plant Program.
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). Invasive plants can also disrupt natural ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, increase soil erosion, alter soil chemistry and adversely affect commercial crops.
This funding is in addition to the $935,000 already allocated by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations for invasive plant control and management in 2016-17.