NEWS RELEASE
INVASIVE SPECIES CENTRE
************************
Lakehead University of Orillia was awarded $8,675 from the Green Shovels Collaborative’s Invasive Phragmites Control Fund to combat the invasive plant, Phragmites.
This project joins 20 others from across Ontario supported through the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund, a granting program made possible by an expanded investment of $250,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Invasive Phragmites is an aggressive plant that spreads quickly and poses a considerable threat to Ontario’s environment and economy. Phragmites outcompetes native species for water and nutrients.
Growing up to five metres in height and up to one metre below ground, phragmites form dense stands that generally provide poor habitat and food for wildlife, including several species at risk. Once established, phragmites can degrade local environments including reducing biological diversity, impacting infrastructure, agriculture, recreation, tourism, and public safety.
Investing in a collaborative, sustained solution to phragmites is well worth it. A study estimated total economic benefits realized by controlling phragmites could exceed $113 million annually in Ontario. An investment in scaled phragmites control would pay dividends in preventing the many costs of phragmites to Ontario through reduced agricultural production, reduced public access to water, increased flooding, and lost tourism revenue.
Lakehead University's Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning Phragmites Youth Action Project, Environmental Specialist High Skills Major, Invasive Species Module is an ongoing, collaborative project using proven strategies to control and address the leading edge and rapid spread of phragmites while increasing collaboration and coordination and volunteer and landowner participation and capacity. This approach increases youth awareness of the environmental threat of phragmites and helps build capacity for future volunteerism among the wider youth population.
“This funding will enable Ontario Youth Naturalist Program's Phragmites Youth Action Project to become more widely available, allowing approximately 80 youth to experience hands-on phragmites removal at Georgian Bay Islands National Park. As volunteers, students will receive instruction on phragmites management methods and safely complete up to two hours of removal,” explained Lynsey Ellis-Smith, Lakehead University.
You can learn more about the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund here.
************************