While invasive plants pose significant threats to native ecosystems, some can be used for edible or medicinal purposes, turning a problem into a potential resource. By harvesting these plants responsibly, you can make teas, salves, or even salads while helping to control their spread. It’s crucial to follow best practices to prevent further invasion. In this guide, we’ll explain why invasive plants are harmful and provide tips on how to harvest them without contributing to their spread.
Why Invasive Plants are Harmful
- Invasive plants can outcompete native flora, leading to reduced biodiversity and disrupted habitats. This is particularly concerning as many native plants hold cultural significance and possess medicinal uses that are threatened when invasive species take over.
What Makes a Plant Invasive?
- Prolific Seed Production: Invasive plants produce a large number of seeds, enabling rapid spread.
- Lack of Natural Predators: These plants often thrive because they aren’t eaten or otherwise controlled by local wildlife.
- Rapid Establishment: They can quickly colonize disturbed and bare soils.
- Long-Lasting Seed Banks: Their seeds can remain viable in the soil for many years.
How Invasive Species Spread Through Harvesting
- We strongly discourage growing any invasive plants on your property as they can easily escape and invade natural areas. Invasive seeds and plant parts can hitch a ride on your clothing, equipment, vehicles, and pets.
Risks of Harvesting Invasive Plants:
- Disturbing Soil: This can encourage the spread of invasive species.
- Harvesting While Plants Are in Seed: This increases the risk of spreading seeds.
- Uncontained Transport of Plant Debris: Can lead to accidental spread.
- Improper Disposal: Can result in the establishment of new invasive populations.
Best Management Practices for Harvesting Invasive Plants
1. Keep Clean
- Arrive Clean, Leave Clean: Clean yourself, your gear, equipment, vehicles, and pets to prevent the spread of seeds.
- Store and Park Wisely: Keep equipment and vehicles away from invasive plants.
2. Limit Disturbance
- Minimize Disturbance:Avoid disturbing the soil, monitor disturbed sites, and avoid leaving bare soil.
- Restore Sites: Replant or seed disturbed areas with native plants.
3. Spot and Harvest Responsibly
- Identify Invasive Species: Know which invasive species are present at your site.
- Work Strategically: Start in areas with few or no invasives.
- Understand Plant Reproduction: Know if the plant reproduces by seed, vegetatively, or both.
- Avoid harvesting when plants are in seed.
4. Transport Plant Parts and Debis Responsibly:
- Contain Plant Parts: Use bags, totes with lids, or trucks with canopies to transport plant materials.
5. Dispose of unused invasive plant debris properly
- Use Appropriate Methods: Place invasive plant debris in clear bags and bring them to a landfill or transfer station. Larger quantities can be disposed of using the “burrito” method, with advance notice to the landfill facility.
- Avoid Backyard Composting: Do not compost invasive plant parts at home.
- Avoid Burning: Some species’ seeds remain viable after burning.
6. Share with Care
- Do Not Share Invasives: Avoid transplanting plants from disturbed areas, and do not dig up native plants from undisturbed areas.
7. Spot and Report
Report Sightings: Contact CKISS directly by submitting an invasive species report, emailing info@ckiss.ca, calling 1-844-352-1160, or using the ‘Report Invasive’ app or iNaturalist.
By following the guidelines in the slide show above, you can help protect native ecosystems and preserve the cultural and medicinal uses of native plants.