Invasive Species Action Fund supports host of new projects

NEWS RELEASE
INVASIVE SPECIES CENTRE
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Thanks to an investment from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Invasive Species Centre is supporting 97 new collaborative action projects by community groups, Indigenous organizations, and municipalities on critical invasive species issues. This includes a project with Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, a not-for-profit based in the Niagara region. 

With this funding, Landscape Ontario will increase surveillance and training for the early detection of invasive species likely to enter Canada, including spotted lanternfly. Spotted lanternfly feeds on a wide range of native hardwood trees and fruit trees, posing a threat to nursery stock and various other industries. Landscape Ontario will expand training on spotted lanternfly identification and trapping techniques to community scientists, so that any sightings can be accurately identified and reported quickly to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The training will include tree-of-heaven, a preferred host tree species of spotted lanternfly that is widespread throughout Ontario. 

Invasive species are plants, animals, insects, and pathogens that are introduced to an ecosystem outside of their native range and cause harm to the environment, economy, or society. These species damage lakes, lands, forests, and communities, and are the second greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide. Ontario has the highest number of invasive species in Canada, which are responsible for an estimated $3.6 billion dollars of impact each year to forestry, fisheries, agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, and recreation in the province. 

“The Invasive Species Centre is pleased to support on-the-ground action by communities to reduce the spread of invasive species which impact parks, forests, and lakes in Ontario,” says Sarah Rang, Invasive Species Centre Executive Director. “The goal of these community-led efforts is long-term positive changes on the landscape that reduce the impacts of invasive species on natural spaces and Ontario’s economy.” 

Since 2021, the Invasive Species Centre has funded 257 projects across the province that help protect natural spaces from the impacts of invasive species. In Southwestern Ontario, the 2024 Invasive Species Action Fund is pleased to support 34 organizations including: 

• Birds Canada 
• Bruce Trail Conservancy 
• City of Hamilton 
• County of Dufferin 
• Credit Valley Conservation Foundation 
• Freedom House 
• Hamilton Conservation Foundation 
• Hamilton Naturalists Club 
• Hamilton Wentworth Green Venture 
• Heartland Forest Nature Experience 
• Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association 
• McMaster University 
• Ontario Woodlot Association 
• rare Charitable Research Reserve
• Royal Botanical Gardens 
• Scouts Canada 
• The Niagara Parks Foundation   

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