ERO number 019-7582 We…

ERO number 019-7582

We are initiating a renewal of the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan (2012) to address the ongoing and increasing threat of invasive species in Ontario. To support the renewal and to guide future efforts, a review of progress has been completed to highlight milestones and significant achievements in invasive species prevention and management.

Hello, I have been following this and supporting the recommendations of the Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation (CCIPR) https://ccipr.ca/.
Action needs to occur. I live in a semi-rural area in the Waterloo Region and invasive plants are encroaching on our natural areas everywhere. Phragmites are a scourage along our highways, roads and wetlands. Japanese knotweed is along some areas of the Nith River and I see many huge patches along some homes, roadsides, and forests. Garlic mustard is everywhere. The nursery trade continues to sell periwinkle, and other groundcovers without warnings. We have many forests losing their native flora to these. This is just a small sampling of the issues in my community. In one of the regional forests, burning bush was an issue in the 1990s.

Outside my community, I have hiked the Bruce Trail from Queenston to Tobermory and so many areas of forest are covered in lily of the valley, periwinkle, false lamium, and English Ivy. Near Caledon, a lovely valley with a stream is covered in English Ivy over the ground and up the trees. It is heartbreaking to see this. We lose the native orchids, spring ephemerals, and other native flora that support our wildlife and trees. In the past, the cold winters may have killed most of this but with warming temperatures, the ivy is thriving. This is contributing to a huge loss in biodiversity.

There is importance in protecting animal or human health (Japanese barberry/Lyme disease).

Please, I urge you to take strong action on this now.