More financial support programs that combat invasive species in Ontario.
The provincial government will contribute 16 million toward initiatives.
A portion will go to a province-wide initiative to fight the invasive plant Phragmites,
The rest will go to a fund that provides grants to support local programs.
The funding will be administered by the Invasive Species Centre in Sault Ste. Marie and Nature Conservancy of Canada.
“Invasive species are one of the main threats to biodiversity in Ontario and they also have a negative impact on our economy,” states Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources, in a release.
“This investment is the latest step our government is taking to protect Ontario’s critical industries as well as our natural environment to ensure we can continue to enjoy the natural beauty in our province.”
A 2019 study by the Invasive Species Centre estimated the potential impacts of invasive species on agriculture, fisheries, forestry, health care, tourism and recreation are as high as $3.6 billion per year.
“Invasive species have economic, environmental and social impacts on forests, lands and waters. This new investment will increase monitoring, early detection and rapid response to reduce the spread of invasive species,” says Sarah Rang, Executive Director of the Invasive Species Centre
The Invasive Species Act lists 42 species, four groups, one family and two carriers as invasive to the province.
Ten non-native species and four genera (groups of species) were recently added to the list.
