9. Stopping the Green
Invasion! Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden Takes
Aim at Invasive Alien Species, Costa Kasimos & Joy
Barfoot, MUN Botanical Garden
Cirsium arvense
Photo: MUN Botanical Garden |
If you’ve ever driven onto one of the ferries leaving Newfoundland,
you’ve probably been pleasantly surprised by the complimentary
car wash…until you see that they only cleaned the bottom of
your car. This is but one of many programs across the country designed
to prevent the spread of invasive alien species; in this case the
Golden Nematode (a potato disease). Canada, as well as most other
countries, has been forced to deal with the multi-billion dollar
problems associated with alien species.
Invasive alien species are one of the world’s most serious
threats to biodiversity and they can have massive economic consequences
as well. They include plants, animals and microbes that can enter
natural habitats, become established, and out-compete native species.
If they simply stayed in one area, they would be regarded as exotic
species. It is when they start changing things, spreading around,
squeezing out natives that they are considered an unwanted pest
(or alien invasive).
Canada, through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Environment
Canada, has become very active in this field. With such delights
as the Asian long-horn beetle, sudden oak death, Dutch elm disease,
purple loosestrife, West Nile virus, and Japanese beetle well into
Canada, and bearing down on our province, you can be pretty sure
that regulations are only going to get tougher.
Let’s just focus on plants; there are almost 4,000 species
of plants in Canada, 800 of which are non-native or alien. Newfoundland
and Labrador’s climate, and Newfoundland’s isolation
as an island, has limited the extent of the problems caused by invasive
alien species. However, over 35% of our plant species are alien…that’s
1 in 3!
So who invited these unwanted guests? The answer, unfortunately,
is us. Many common alien plants taste good (to us or our farm animals)
or look good, so were intentionally brought here for our benefit.
Some aliens snuck in, hidden away in bags of livestock feed, and
even the guts of livestock. Still others arrived as packing material,
medicinals, hay crops and, of course, ornamentals. Nowadays, with
the advent of the Internet, plant enthusiasts can now purchase plants
from all over the world.
While there are plenty of weedy aliens that cause headaches for
gardeners, it is the aliens that threaten Newfoundland and Labrador’s
natural ecosystems that Joy Barfoot and Costa Kasimos of the MUN
Botanical Garden are most interested in. With funding from the Invasive
Alien Species Partnership Program, Joy and Costa are creating an
awareness campaign to help stop the spread of invasive alien plants,
prevent any future invasives from entering our fragile ecosystems,
and manage those that are here to stay. The education campaign will
encourage people to learn about new garden species before they plant
them. The importance of buying from local nurseries and avoiding
sneaking plants and plant materials into the country will be emphasized.
Using native plants as ornamental plants will be promoted as an
ecological alternative. The use of native plants for landscaping
not only prevents alien plants from being introduced but also reduces
the use of pesticides and fertilizers. The campaign will teach people
how to prevent the introduction of new plants into natural habitats
by using gardening techniques, such as proper composting of garden
wastes.
A web-based monitoring program (www.mun.ca/botgarden)
was launched during the “Eyes Across the Province” workshop,
held at the Garden on April 17th. The goal of this monitoring program
is to encourage outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers to report
sightings of “green aliens” from across Newfoundland
and Labrador. Since the launch, several volunteers have already
reported sightings of coltsfoot from various regions of the province.
Gardening is an enriching and rewarding pastime and MUN Botanical
Garden encourages everyone to participate in and experience this
activity. The intention of the campaign is not to take away our
garden plants. Far from it; the hope is that we will expand interest
in gardening activities with a heightened appreciation for the natural
environment around us.
In the meantime, as the last winter snowflake quietly seeps into
the soil, and the longing for springtime sunshine rises from the
shadow, keep a “watchful eye” and happy gardening!
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Yann Vergriete
Project coordinator
Institut de recherche en biologie végétale
The Montréal Botanical Garden
4101, rue Sherbrooke Est
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CANADA
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