Invasive species of plants are a scourge — an at-times dangerous scourge.
Such as knotweed, known as the terrorist of the plant kingdom.
That’s why more and more effort is being made to clear such areas as public trails — where people can come into accidental contact with — of non-native plants.
Dealing with these sometimes-dangerous invasive plant species in Burnaby is often the work of volunteers who gather to clear areas.
Now those volunteers might receive some extra support.
The Invasive Species Council of BC will be hiring 200 people to identify, report and manage invasive species across the province, thanks to $8 million in funding from the provincial government.
“We’re pleased the province has chosen to partner with us on this effort to create jobs and support detection and removal of invasive species,” said Gail Wallin, executive director of the ISCBC. “We have a wealth of experience in delivering large-scale employment-based programming, and a strong network across B.C. working collaboratively with governments, Indigenous organizations, industry, provincial and regional non-profit organizations and others to reduce impacts of invasive species to the economy, environment and communities.”
The goal is to detect and remove invasive species throughout B.C. over the next 15 months. A total of $8 million is directed to ISCBC for provincewide hiring.
The jobs will include training and transferrable skill development to support increased invasive species outreach, reporting and behaviour change initiatives and on-the-ground management of invasive species on provincial public land and waters, as well as reserve and local government lands where authorized, said a news release.
