What is your vision for the…

What is your vision for the future of invasive species prevention and management in the province?

-I would like to see a comprehensive action-based strategy that acts as a guiding document for municipalities to conduct invasive species presentation and management within the province. In addition, incorporating best management practices and identifying a list of priority species would be helpful for land managers focus their efforts. Identifying and providing access to funding support to municipal government to carry out invasive species prevention and management practices.

- Large focus on Early Detection Rapid Response and educational material that can be made available and shared with landowners to ensure consistent education across the province.

- The creation of a centralized matrix/ priority assessment chart that allows land managers to assess and prioritize what species and locations they should be allocating resources towards. This would encompass a scoring chart that takes into consideration various factors including location (proximity to sensitive areas), size of patch, species, BMP control options.

- A large focus should be on phragmites management along the roadsides and in standing water. It becomes challenging to conduct control management measures on large patches of phragmites growing in standing water and sensitive areas. It also requires a lot of resources to implement multi year control management. Provide case study examples for each management control option recommended to combat invasive. I would also like to see more of a focus on exploring biological control options for various species and recommendations for municipalities to implement in terms of bylaws.

- Recommendations for compensation planting/ tree protection bylaws. For instance, encouraging the removal of invasive trees and shrubs and replacing with native vegetation. If 1 mature buckthorn tree is removed “X” amount of native trees need to be planted.

o Create policies that are enforceable and enforced.
o Steeper penalties for those who willingly transport invasives.
o All greenhouses and plant sellers are provided information about the practice of selling invasive species. Perhaps a policy point about the consequence to this business if they are caught selling invasives.
o All practitioners of invasive species management follow the Best Management Practices regarding invasives species management in Ontario.

What opportunities are there for the future of invasive species prevention and management in Ontario?

- Outreach and education for local nurseries and greenhouses to prevent the sales of terrestrial invasive species vegetation. Consider the development of a program to recognize establishments that don’t sell invasives and promote alternative native plants.
- Municipal Funding Program that provides support to municipalities looking to implement removal of invasive species
- Explore biological control options available.
- Land owner incentives to combat and control invasive species management
- Opportunities to incorporate management of invasives into storm water management cleaning.
- Address the sales of terrestrial invasive species at local nurseries and greenhouses.
o Greenhouses and plant sellers are informed about how their plant stock might be introducing or impacting invasives in Ontario.
o All levels of government working together and sharing information.
o Inspectors at popular boating sites to limit water invasives.
o Proper education of impact of invasives.

Do you think there are barriers related to invasive species prevention and management in Ontario? How could these barriers be addressed?
- There are a variety of barriers related to invasive species management in Ontario that should be considered and addressed. Barriers include limited staffing resources (from a municipal perspective) and knowledge gaps among staff in different department to support invasive species management. Second to limited staff resources, financial constraints are a large barrier that needs to be considered. The cost to conduct management is rarely incorporated into municipal budgeting and existing grant funds that are available are small. Another barrier would be a large portion of terrestrial invasive vegetation growing on private landowner properties. If the municipality invest in a project at a park to implement controls but the majority of the infestation is situated on adjacent private land it makes it difficult and challenging to reduce the spread. If incentives and financial support were available to land owners it would encourage them to work with the municipalities to implement control measures.
- Barriers also include the lack on knowledge amongst home owners and business relating to
invasive species management best management practices and disposal of invasive species.
- . Uneven distribution of funds available from Provincial government to support Invasive species
management.

o General education for the public is lacking. The info about invasives needs to be ‘dumbed down’ for public consumption as there isn’t enough relatable material for the average person.
o Provide information related to the economic and ecosystem impacts of invasives species in Ontario to the public. Money talks.
o Undertake an appropriate advertising campaign, throughout all forms of media to promote prevention and mitigation efforts.
o There is an overwhelming sense that every time we turn around a new environmental issue pops up. Invasives are a low priority for the majority of the public.
o Enforcement.