How do we take care of the land we love? One critical action is invasive species removal to ensure species like Monarch Butterflies have suitable habitat to thrive and survive. Over the past two months, our staff and volunteers have come together to remove over 1,000 lbs.
It’s absolutely inspiring to witness our community and staff coming together to remove such a significant amount of invasive species! Huge thanks go out to all our dedicated volunteers who have visited over 10 nature reserves, some even in remote areas, to help us tackle Dog Strangling Vine (DSV), Invasive Phragmites, Garlic Mustard, Purple Loosestrife, and Scots Pine.
Did you know?
Garlic Mustard, native to Europe, was introduced to North America in the 1800s as an edible herb. It’s now an invasive species that thrives in forest understories, outcompeting native plants. Its seeds can survive in the soil for up to 5 years, making it hard to eliminate.
This summer has been a significant learning curve for me as I explored what invasive species truly are. To give some insight, invasive species are non-native plants, animals, or microorganisms that spread rapidly and harm our environment, economy, or human health. They often outcompete native species for resources, leading to the decline or extinction of native plants and animals and disrupting entire ecosystems.
In addition to our removal efforts, we’ve been thrilled to provide educational opportunities for the public. We co-hosted two informative workshops, one in collaboration with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) focusing on DSV pod removal at Turnbull Ranch Nature Reserve. Thank you to Don, Greg, Patrick, Katie, and the NCC staff for making that event a success. The following week, we delved into Beech Leaf Disease with a fantastic presentation from the Invasive Species Centre and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry staff—thank you for your insightful contributions!
We’re excited to announce that we will be offering more opportunities for the public to get involved in our fight against invasive species. Our goal is to manage invasive species over 60 acres. We invite you to join us for these sessions, which will be held every Tuesday and Thursday throughout September.
If you’re interested in participating, please visit our new invasive species webpage or https://couchichingconserv.ca/invasive-species/. Your involvement will make a significant impact!
Article by: Danielle Houston, Project and Grant Coordinator