People who spend their free time working hard to remove invasive plants from local green spaces say it’s worth it because they are doing something tangible to mitigate the effects of climate change.
“At the end of the day, you can physically see the difference you’re making. You can even see the meter-by-meter removals that take place, even after you’ve left a site,” said Joshua Ralph, 23, a volunteer with the Invasive Council. types of BC
Over the weekend, he joined a small group of volunteers at Jericho Beach to help cut, dig and remove the Himalayan blackberries, which are ubiquitous in many places in the Vancouver Metro and the province.
The team is just one of many aiming to weed out invasive plants across British Columbia in May, which the province has declared invasive species month.
Watch Volunteers in Vancouver take on the challenge of dealing with invasive species:
Volunteers in Vancouver are taking on the challenge of dealing with invasive species
The province says invasive species are a major threat to the natural ecosystems and infrastructure of British Columbia 2:17
The Himalayan blackberry is just one example of a species that was introduced in BC and began to overtake native species, leading to loss of biodiversity and ecological health.
Scorpions, northern snakeheads, Japanese beetles and Asian hornets, along with plants such as reeds, giant borscht and blessed milk thistle, are just some of the other species discovered in BC that have the potential to destroy habitats and leave landscapes. less resilient to climate change.
Biodiversity loss can make landscapes more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as fire or floods. When a plant or species becomes dominant in an area, it can cause the ecosystem to stop functioning as intended.
“Great threat”
For the past eight years, the province has encouraged British Colombians to be vigilant during the Invasive Species Action Area when inspecting and reporting invasive species in their backyards or when researching outdoors.
“Invasive species are a major threat to our natural ecosystems and infrastructure,” a joint statement from the Ministries of Forestry, Land, Water and Resources said Friday.
“We rely on sustainable invasive, aquatic and aquatic habitats for food, livelihoods, cultural purposes and much more.”
An invasive whale in a field near Jericho Beach in Vancouver. (Martin Diot / CBC News)
Although government action is needed to monitor certain species such as Japanese beetles and zebra mussels, the British Columbia Invasive Species Council said small actions by members of the public could also make a visible difference.
Jenny McCaffrey, the council’s director of education and training, said participating in something like habitat restoration is an opportunity for many people who are concerned about the climate crisis.
“I think [the climate crisis] it can be incredibly astounding, but I think that’s why people keep coming back to do this important job … they can actually see the impact and the difference they’re making, “McCafrey said.
“When they restore an area back to a larger natural environment, they actually see native species returning to that area, and that’s incredibly powerful.”
Volunteers cut down the invasive blackberries on Jericho Beach in Vancouver on Sunday. (Martin Diot / CBC News)
This was the lure for 29-year-old Trav Martin, who also volunteered to remove blackberries on Jericho Beach on Sunday.
He studied biology at Fraser Valley University and then studied natural resources in Newfoundland before working in the Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island to help with invasive herbs.
“I feel like I’m making as much of a difference as one person can make,” he said.
Trav Martin says he wants to make a career by fighting invasive species that can reduce biodiversity and ultimately worsen the effects of climate change. (Martin Diot / CBC News)
Martin wants to make a career out of dealing with invasive species, especially in terms of educating the public on the subject.
“A lot [people] they don’t even know where the invasive species are in their area, “he said.
The British Columbia Invasive Species Council said awareness of the threat of invasive species in the province was rising and was grateful for $ 8 million in funding from the province as part of its economic recovery plan.
The money is used to train and hire more than 200 people to work in the field, such as relocating and restoring habitats.
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