Invasive Plant Management

According to the World Conservation Union (WCU), invasive plants pose the second most significant threat to biodiversity, after habitat loss. "Invasive alien species are animals, plants or other organisms introduced by humans into places out of their natural range of distribution, where they get established and disperse generating a negative impact on the local ecosystem and species" (WCU).

Delta is a participant in the Invasive Plant Council of British Columbia (IPCBC). The IPCBC was created after the release of the Invasive Plant Strategy for British Columbia, a document produced to combat the exponential increase in damage and threats caused by invasive plants and exacerbated by inconsistent management around the province.

The IPCBC's goal is to implement the Invasive Plant Strategy and to minimize the negative ecological, social, and economic impacts caused by invasive plants.

Delta also sits as an advisory member on the Greater Vancouver Invasive Plant Council (GVIPC). The GVIPC is a regional week committee that concentrates its efforts within the boundaries of the Metro Vancouver Regional District.

Delta's primary invasive plant management programs include a seasonal agricultural weed control program and participating in the interagency Spartina Anglica control measures in Boundary Bay.

During the seasonal agricultural weed control program the following invasive plants are mapped with GPS and uploaded into the Invasive Alien Plant Program database:

• Canada thistle
• Bull thistle
• Scotch broom
• Giant hogweed/Cow's parsnip
• Tansy Ragwort
• Japanese knotweed
• Policeman's helmet
• Yellow-flag iris

With the cooperation of Delta's Parks, Recreation and Culture Department, there are also volunteer groups that conduct invasive species removal in Delta's parks.