WEEDS EH? Invasive Plant Management in Canada: a Brief Overview. Marika Godwin 2 December 2009 North Carolina Exotic Plant Pest Council AGM

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1 WEEDS EH? Invasive Plant Management in Canada: a Brief Overview Marika Godwin 2 December 2009 North Carolina Exotic Plant Pest Council AGM

2 Overview of the Overview Cirsium arvense quick facts Canada s response federal responsibilities provincial responsibilities councils national working group collaborations risk assessment the NC connection acknowledgements

3 O Canada area 3,855,103 (3,537,438) square miles 9% freshwater aquatic invasive species world s longest coastline: 125,567 miles aquatic invasive species 10 provinces & 3 territories population approx. 33,500,000 (304,060,000) 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the US border Canada-US border is the longest in the world: 5,524 miles

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5 More O Canada land ownership: 89% Crown, 11% private economy: 10 th in the world services, industry, agriculture US is most important trading partner varies greatly region to region (strong regionalism ) large area, few people, diverse geography, diverse economy Impatiens glandulifera

6 Our Response to IAS GOAL: engage Canadians in actions that help minimize risk to the environment, economy, and society SCOPE: broad and inclusive; seeks to protect aquatic and terrestrial systems PRIORITIES: (1) prevent; (2) detect; (3) respond; (4) manage

7 Our Response to IAS $85 million budget (2005) split between 4 federal departments current $ runs out in 2010 intent of the Strategy holds true departments working on a plan for the next 5 years hopeful for expanded programming opportunities Alliaria petiolata crew

8 Federal Responsibilities Environment Canada (EC) lead and coordination of the Strategy Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Canada s national plant protection organization Plant Protection Act & Seed Act are key legislative instruments leadership and implementation of the Strategy as it relates to plants and plant pests Objectives: strengthen plant health program; develop and implement new program for invasive alien plants

9 Federal Activities improve weed risk assessment capacity invasive plant policy development legislative review IAS web portal (May 2009) support IAS councils leading development of a national EDRR model for invasive plants plant database for Canada glossary of IAS terms with US and Mexico (NAPPO) grain/birdseed inspections

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11 Provincial Responsibilities generally, provincial governments have many key powers and jurisdictions (eg. social services) notes on territories: constitutionally subordinate to federal government (provinces are autonomous) no agriculture agencies provincial weed acts: administered by agencies responsible for agriculture (eg. NS Department of Agriculture, ON Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, AB Agriculture and Rural Development, etc) address weed seeds and established weeds emphasis traditionally on habitats of species problematic to agriculture

12 Provincial Responsibilities resources allocated to IAS varies greatly across provinces different IAS problems staffing $$$ eg. Nova Scotia 1 weed inspector no other provincial staff only 4 provinces sent government reps to National Forum (BC, AB, ON, QC) Rosa multiflora

13 MANITOBA prairie province 250,900 square miles >30 Weed Supervisors

14 NOVA SCOTIA atlantic province 21,300 square miles 1 Weed Inspector

15 Invasive Species Councils 6 Councils Invasive Plant Council of British Columbia (2003) Alberta Invasive Plants Council (2004) Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council (2008) Invasive Species Council of Manitoba (2006) Ontario Invasive Plant Council (2007) Invasive Species Alliance of Nova Scotia (2007)

16 Invasive Species Councils 3 Organized Groups Yukon Invasive Species Committee Quebec Interdepartmental Committee on Exotic Species Working Group of New Brunswick Invasive Alien Species (NBIAS) 3 Other Northwest Territories Prince Edward Island Newfoundland & Labrador NOTE: currently, no involvement from Nunavut

17 Invasive Species Councils non-profit organizations (some registered) BC, AB, ON plants only all other groups are multi-species funding is #1 various models various development/establishment stages similar goals awareness /understanding, information, partnerships BC funding, data, research diverse membership federal, provincial/territorial, Aboriginal, academic, industry, environmental/community groups, etc. also Atlantic and Western group networks same challenges

18 National Invasive Species Working Group formed January provinces & 2 territories building bridges across Canada to work together in the battle against invasive species raising profile of councils and their value press release, May letter to federal ministers, Sept working in partnership to build upon the lessons learned in each province or territory to improve public awareness of invasive alien species

19 Collaborative Efforts 1. National EDRR Framework for Invasive Plants federal, provincial/territorial, councils 9 meetings writing team working on first draft 2. National Alien Invasive Species Forum June 2009 federal, provincial/territorial, councils PURPOSE: enhance cooperation between IAS stakeholders OUTCOMES: develop ToR for National Coordination Mechanism; obtain feedback on group thinking; prioritize critical pest and pathways the Canadian IAS Family: federal, provincial/territorial, council, municipal, Aboriginal, academic, others? second forum planned for 2010

20 Risk Assessment Federal (CFIA) risk assessments using IPPC guidelines developing a faster, spreadsheet-based system (Pheloung et al. 1999) some climate issues publication being submitted to Biological Invasions Provincial/Territorial Alberta developing a provincial risk assessment tool will be available for use British Columbia interministry working group working on risk assessment no other risk assessment activity known

21 Risk Assessment Councils ISCM had a Risk Analysis for Manitoba workshop at their Nov 09 AGM adapting federal model ISANS is planning risk assessment discussions at the Steering Committee level Dec 09 starting with federal models IPCBC working with interministry working group Celastrus orbiculatus Adapting federal methods to meet provincial needs?

22 The NC Connection Randy Westbrooks, PhD United States Geological Survey proposed a NA early warning system for invasive plants (2008 WAB conference) assisting Canadian provinces/territories develop EDRR capacity every chance he gets! 20 presentations since 1991 Currently at the MB Weed Supervisors Assn AGM in Winnipeg photo courtesy Randy Westbrooks

23 Thanks Michelle Fike, ISANS; Claire Wilson, CFIA; Cheryl Hemming, ISCM; Don Battiste, AIPC; Randy Westbrooks, USGS

24 What s Happening in NS continued development of ISANS website strategic plan funding upcoming legislative review risk analysis dialogue high-school outreach community-level projects (partner ngos)

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