Invasive Species Council of BC representatives visited 100 Mile House to educate people about the many plants that should not be here.
Organized by the South Cariboo Sustainability Society, the presentation was open to the public and held at the Cariboo Regional District Library 100 Mile House Branch,
Alex Mutch, an ISCBC coordinator based in Williams Lake, talked about invasive plant species present in B.C. as well as those specific in the Cariboo region.
In addition, there was a discussion about the need to be aware of seed mixes, as well as the need to wash boats to stop the spread of invasive species and the need to report species and ways to do so.
Alongside a slideshow, were guides on noxious weeds and invasive plants in B.C., as well as a field guide to aquatic invasive species, and finally, a guide on what to grow instead of invasive species.
The South Cariboo Sustainability Society has a mandate to promote discussion and interest in sustainability issues in the South Cariboo area.
Hugh Thomas, the chair of the South Cariboo Sustainability Society, said they organized the presentation because during their annual general meeting, someone usually gives a presentation.
"Somebody, had the idea of inviting Alex Mutch to talk on the Invasive Species," Thomas stated. "I thought it went very well last night."
According to Gail Wallin of the Invasive Species Council of B.C., invasive species in general are a danger because they do not have predators that would keep them in line.
"If you are in and around 100 Mile, you are going to have seen, like...what we call Canada Thistle or Knapps, that just take over and change the important habitats around here," Wallin said. Canada Thistle is cited in the Field Guide to Noxious Weeds and Other Selected Invasive Plants as a "creeping rotted perennial growing erect to one point two metres" and spreads by seed and creeping roots.
Wallin said the biggest species that people in the South Cariboo should be aware of are the Orange Hawkweed, which Wallen described as "beautiful along the roadside." Yet, that ornamental flower that was introduced from Europe is deceiving in its beauty: it has been found to impact ranching and agriculture by decreasing yields and quality of forage production.
Fighting invasive species like the Orange Hawkweed is one of the many goals of the Sustainability Society.
"It's an environmental concern - like that's one of our big things, is how to carry on treating the environment in a sustainable environment." summarized Thomas. "If you have invasive species in the areas where the cattle is foraging, then that's a problem - and all of the hay fields that we have - it has a big effect on things like recreation - and foraging for berries and things like that."
The Sustainability Society is also taking care of three gardens: the Community Place garden, the Cariboo Regional District Library 100 Mile House Branch garden, and the Lodge Garden and during the presentation, Mutch said invasive plants can be bought in a store.
"It sounded like you can go to the gardening shop and buy plants which may not be the greatest, because they could be considered an invasive species. So, we definitely want to avoid doing that." Thomas added.
On the back of the Field Guide to Noxious Weeds and Other Selected Invasive Plants of B.C., the booklet encourages people to take action - and encourages those to report any invasive plant species to gov.bc.ca/invasive-species or by calling 1-888-933-3722.
