Williams Lake, B.C. – The provincial government has taken steps to address invasive species in the Interior.

The $1.6 million Job Creation Partnerships project has been developed by the Province and the Invasive Species Council of B.C.

The year-long Invasive Species Skills Development Program is now underway in Vernon, Kamloops, 100 Mile House and Williams Lake regions. The 15 participants will survey and then remediate invasive species populations, and also work to raise public awareness of the issue with various groups and at community events.

The three-person team assigned to each of these five communities will focus on invasive species present in that specific area, gaining skills in conducting field inventories, surveying, plant identification, data recording, data management and communities.

This project will run until April 2017, when participants will have completed all of their planned activities, including more than 150 presentations to local organizations and schools. They will also prepare a report on management activities related to 20 priority invasive plants and species at 250 different sites.

The Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation is providing $872,826 for the project. The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is providing $49,220 of in-kind contributions, and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is contributing $27,620 of in-kind contributions.

Over 40 agencies have contributed in-kind professional support, including at least 10 local and First Nations governments.