Report Calls for New Rules To Handle Weeds

By 250 News

A Forest Practices Board report says B.C.’s  ecosystems are being threatened by non-native, invasive plants, like those pictured above.

While the report notes there is progress being made in dealing with these plants, it concludes much more needs to be done
to control them and  prevent the  current infestations from spreading.

The report found there are a couple of things which are making it easier for these plants to spread and take hold.  The first is climate change, the second is increased soil disturbance as  logging activity increasesmbecause of the mountain pine beetle epidemic.

To make matters worse, the report also says licensees are not legally bound to take invasive plant inventories or control the existing plants on Crown land and while they are  supposed to prevent the spread of such plants, there isn’t enough guidance on how a licensee is supposed to do that.

(oxeye daisy at right, also considered invasive plant)

The report’s recommendations include:

• A review  and consolidation of the invasive plant weed list into a single list for the whole province
• Ministry of Forests and Range should develop a priority list for dealing with these plants.
• Clarify Acts which deal with invasive plants so government agency, licensee, and private landowners are clear on who is responsible for what
• training programs for licensees so they can better identify the invasive plants

(Canadian thistle at left also an invasive plant)

TheBoard has asked for a response to the recommendations by March 31, 2007.

The full report can be accessed here.

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