Scotch broom quickly takes over empty fields & clear cut forest land. This yellow field was a forest a decade ago. Parksville Interchange #51

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2 Scotch broom quickly takes over empty fields & clear cut forest land. This yellow field was a forest a decade ago. Parksville Interchange #51

3 Broom will grow rapidly on any disturbed soil. In the sun broom wins. Parksville Interchange #46

4 Scotch broom has been allowed to grow densely under power line corridors. It spreads onto adjoining land where it competes with and strangles young trees.

5 Forests in Danger Broom spreads into areas where young trees have been planted. Fast growing broom will strangle young trees as they compete for sun, water and nutrients. Oregon estimates that it loses over $47 million each year in lost timber sales because of Scotch Broom. Near Parksville With climate change, invasive plants, and development, it is becoming more & more difficult for our forests to grow back in balance & good health.

6 Two Myths You can t stop broom. FALSE! The problem with broom is SEEDS not roots. One plant = 18,000 seeds for years. CUT BROOM IN BLOOM at ground level. The roots will die in the summer s dry heat. If you disturb the soil, seeds sprout. Under ground cover, seeds do NOT sprout. So PULL tiny broom CUT big broom! Broom is naturalized. FALSE! Broom is a bully. It will continue to take over. Like it has in Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Croatia, etc.

7 What s Wrong with Scotch Broom? Scotch broom is an A L I E N invasive plant that Spreads rapidly and densely anywhere in the sun Forms dense thickets Crowds out native plants Leads to a dramatic loss of diversity Slows and prevents forest re-growth Causes allergies Highly flammable Toxic to grazing animals Changes soil chemistry Makes farmland useless

8 Broom Spreads Rapidly Because broom is an ALIEN invasive plant in our ecosystem, nothing can stop its spread BUT YOU AND ME. These photos were taken during a dry spring. 75% of the branches were dry and dead.

9 Tall Dense Thickets Broom is a woody weed. It can grow feet tall in a few years! Big Broom dies easily when cut. Don t panic and don t pull.

10 Fire Hazard!! This is what broom looked like in May during a dry season. Inland Island Highway High oil content and dry branches make broom a serious fire hazard. Qualicum Beach Old Landfill 2010

11 Fire Hazard!! "Scotch Broom is a volatile flash fuel. The presence of Scotch broom will increase a wildfire s fuel load and escalate the fire s intensity, compromising fire situations and making them more difficult to fight." Terry Peters Fire Chief Director of Emergency Services City of Powell River B.C.

12 Fire Hazard!! Two invasive species cause fire behaviour and control concerns: broom and gorse. We can t say we didn t know The Coastal Fire Service says that wildfires are harder to predict and control when gorse and broom are present. Resource for Coastal Fire Centre on the website of BC Government, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Summer of 2015, BC Wildfire Service website

13 Southwind Drive Qualicum Beach since 2006 Broombusters started in Qualicum Beach & Coombs in 2006.

14 Port Alberni ~ 2010 Goose Spit CFB Comox Communities & supporters of Broombusters as of 2016: Qualicum Beach Parksville Nanaimo Lantzville Comox Valley Campbell River Port Alberni North Cowichan District of Highlands Ministry of Transportation NEW Powell River

15 VIU Students Nanaimo ~ Started in 2009

16 Comox Valley Cumberland, Comox Courtenay Since 2009

17 Parksville ~ 2008 Campbell River ~ 2013 Lantzville ~ 2013

18 North Cowichan 2013 Maple Bay, Chemainus Kiwanis Club & more

19 CFB Comox Broombuster Volunteers May 22, 2013, over 150 CFB volunteers on Ryan Road Comox Valley CFB ~ 2013

20 Young and Old Age 92 District of Highland Age 4 - Coombs Oceanside Elementary - Parksville

21 Broomfest May Year Anniversary of Broombusters & Qualicum Beach

22 A Moment to Say Thank You to the early Broombusters 2006

23 MUSIC Raffle prizes

24 A Study in Yellow So Much Broom

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26 After 3 hours a final photo.

27 Broomfest. A week later. Just before chipping. Success!

28 Broombusters Key Strategies: Empower the Community C U T B R O O M I N B L O O M With loppers, at ground level, in late April May. Do not pull. Just cut. Do not disturb the soil. No need to poison. C O N T A I N M E N T Go after advancing edge & new infestations first. S T O P T H E S P R E A D Create shade. Preserve trees & groundcover. Cut all yellow flowers to prevent seed formation. C O O P E R A T I O N Communities, cities, media, ministries all working together with one goal. Stop the Bloomin Broom!

29 Some ideas for City Participation B R O O M R E M O V A L Removing broom cut by volunteers on roads & in parks. S I G N S Signs inform the public, make a statement & invite participation. P U B L I C S T A T E M E N T S Let the public know that the city wants to stop the spread of broom through newsletters, press releases, info sheets, etc. D R O P Z O N E S BY- L A W S Phased in gradually & creatively. Encourage City Workers to Cut Broom

30 The Two Greatest Threats to Biodiversity Worldwide 1. Development 2. Invasive Species We are the only ones who can protect our islands.

31 The Reason Why We Cut Broom FUTURE GENERATIONS So that our grandchildren can inherit the forests, farms, meadows, parks and green spaces that were left in our care.