Invasive Species Councils and Committees in British Columbia
The management of invasive species continues to improve, thanks to the dedication, passion, and hard work of invasive species councils and committees across BC. Each committee looks after invasive species in a specific region. Committee activities vary from on-the-ground management of invasive plants and/or species, community outreach and stewardship events, and working with the public, government, and stakeholders to achieve their unique missions and objectives. Links to these organizations are below:
CKISS iNaturalist Invasive Species Guides
Regional Resources
- Canadian Columbia Basin Regional Framework for an Aquatic Invasive Species Program
- Canadian Columbia Basin Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Program – Progress Report 2019
- Christina Lake Stewardship Society | Aquatic Invasive Species Program
British Columbia Resources
- Ministry of Agriculture – Excellent resources related to invasive plant management in BC including reports, field guides and manuals, weed alerts, aggressive ornamentals, and fact sheets.
- Ministry of Agriculture Pest Alerts
- Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure – Information on MOTI’s invasive plant program.
- BC Frogwatch Program
- BC Priority Invasive Species
- BC Priority Invasive Species List – Fauna
- BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer
- Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC | Invasive Plants and Animals
- Invasive Species Council of BC | Clean Drain Dry
- Inter-Ministry Invasive Species Working Group
- BC Ministry of Environment | Controlled Alien Species Regulations
- BC Wildlife Act | Controlled Alien Species Regulation
- E-Flora BC – An in-depth database of plants, including invasive species, in BC.
- E-Fauna BC – An in-depth database of animals, including invasive species, in BC.
- BC Weed Control Act – This piece of legislation is is in regards to the responsibility to control ‘noxious weeds’ at the regional and provincial level. Private property owners and government agencies are mandated by law to control these species that occur on their property or jurisdiction.
- Prescribed Fire and Invasive Plants Manual
National Resources
- Alberta Invasive Species Council (AISC) – AISC promotes awareness of invasive plants in Alberta, fostering new partnerships and resource sharing of invasive plant management. You can identify invasive species in their photo gallery, access fact sheet information, and keep up-to-date on workshops and events.
- Canadian Council on Invasive Species (CCIS) – CCIS works collaboratively across jurisdictional boundaries to support actions and information that can help reduce the threat and impacts of invasive species.
- Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council (SISC) – SISC is a not-for-profit association of professionals from governments (federal, provincial, municipal), industry, and non-government organizations. Council members are knowledgeable on invasive species and their management.
- Yukon Invasive Species Committee (YISC) – YISC provides resources and links about invasive plants, and posts information on events surrounding invasive plants.
- Canadian Aquatic Invasive Species Network (CAISN)
- Canadian Action Plan to Address the Threat of Aquatic Invasive Species
- DFO | Aquatic Invasive Species
- DFO | Aquatic Invasive Species Identification Booklet
- Proceedings of the National Risk Assessment of Zebra Mussel, Quagga Mussel and Dark False Mussel
- Risk Assessment for Three Dreissenid Mussels in Canadian Freshwater Ecosystems
- Science Advice from the Risk Assessment of Three Dreissenid Mussels in Canadian Freshwater Ecosystems
Federal Resources
- Canadian Aquatic Invasive Species Network (CAISN) – The Canadian Aquatic Invasive Species Network (CAISN 2006-2011) was established with the goal of identifying and quantifying the vectors and pathways by which AIS enter Canada, determining factors that affect their colonization success, and developing risk assessment models for potential and existing AIS. The NSERC Canadian Aquatic Invasive Species Network II (CAISN II 2011 – 2016) will address remaining information gaps by focusing on four new core themes: Early Detection, Rapid Response, AIS as Part of Multiple Stressors, and Reducing Uncertainty in Prediction and Management.
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) – The CFIA’s invasive species home page includes links to the “Invasive Alien Plants in Canada” report as well as to fact sheets on invasive plants and other information related to the Agency’s overall invasive species program. The report summarizes the current information available on invasive alien plants in Canada, where they come from, where they occur, and what they cost Canadians in terms of economic, environmental, and social impacts.
- Forest Invasive Alien Species – This website provides in-depth information related to undesired forest invasive alien insects or diseases.
United States Resources
- USDA Plants – A database for invasive plants in the United States.
- Washington Invasive Species Council – Includes excellent photos for identification and control information for species listed in Washington.
- Idaho Department of Agriculture – Includes information on weeds listed in Idaho.
- USDA Forest Service – Includes links to numerous invasive plant databases in the US.
- Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health – The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health is part of the University of Georgia. This site provides a variety of resources for invasive plant management, forestry and natural resources, an image database of invasive species, and INVASIPEDIA.
- National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species (NECIS) – NECIS is a national partnership of 15 major environmental organizations that provides a united expert and scientific voice on invasive species policy. Its leaders include scientists, lawyers, activists, and advocates with many years of experience on invasives policy.
- AERF’s Biology and Control of Aquatic Plants: A Best Management Practices Handbook
- Western Aquatic Invasive Species Monitoring
- Freshwater Mussels of the Pacific Northwest – an introductory and identification guide of freshwater mussels from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
- Pacific States Marine Commission: Uniform Minimum Protocols and Standards for Watercraft Interception Programs for Dreissenid Mussels in the Western United States
- Protect Your Waters and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!
- Rapid Response Workgroup: Preventing an Invasion: Building a Regional Defense against Quagga and Zebra Mussels
- USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
International Resources
- CABI Invasives Blog – CABI is a non-profit organization specializing in scientific publishing, research, and communication. CABI improves people’s lives worldwide by providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment.
- Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) – The GISD aims to increase awareness about invasive alien species and to facilitate effective prevention and management activities. The GISD focuses on invasive alien species that threaten native biodiversity and covers all taxonomic groups from micro-organisms to animals and plants in all ecosystems. Species information is either supplied by or reviewed by expert contributors from around the world.
- International Union for Conservation of Nature – Founded in 1948 as the world’s first global environmental organization, today it is the largest professional global conservation network. The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) (one major program focus area) is a global network of scientific and policy experts on invasive species. Organized by the IUCN Species Survival Commission, the ISSG aims to reduce threats to natural ecosystems and the native species they contain by increasing awareness of invasive alien species and ways to prevent, control or eradicate them.