Invasive species: Invasion of the environment snatchers

BY STEVEN KASZAB

Walking along the roadside you notice some pretty flowers and plants. Do you know if these flowers, or plants are indigenous to your area? Many of us do not. In fact, I have a neighbour who transplanted invasive plants in her yard, only to be visited by the local governments inspector asking her to pull them, or the city would, charging her for their work.

Canada’s waterways, lakes and rivers have unwelcome visitors from other places, invasive plants and animals competing with our indigenous homeland species. Some species are threatened by the overpopulation of these invasive species.

Asian Swamp Eel’s, Asian Grass Carp, Zebra Mussels, Marbled Crayfish, White River Catfish and numerous insects and other species transported to Canada through large ships emptying their ballasts into the Great Lakes. Garlic Mustard, Buckthorns, Dog Strangling Vines along with many other species appear unthreatening but can spread disease while competing for moisture and soil among our domestic species. Further noxious weeds make the evolutionary cycle precarious and unstable.

A few noxious weeds (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs).

• Dodder & Knapweed
• Black Dog Strangling Vine
• European Buckthorn & Common Barberry
• Cyrus Spurge & Kudza
• Leafy Spurge & Poison Ivy
• Ragweed, Poison Hemlock & Wild Parsnip
• Wild Chervil & Smooth Bedstraw

Ontario’s Weed Control Act requires property owners to control the fauna and flora on their properties. If they do not the act will require local governments to act and manage these species at a cost to the property owner (Farm View).

Invasive species are responsible for 2-3 thirds of the extinctions in the Caribbean. The Caribbean’s biodiversity is badly challenged, as its: bird, reptiles, fish stocks, and domestic plants are besieged by threats from elsewhere. The Saba Green Iguana is a threat, as are: African Snails, Lionfish and rats. Globalization has brought: Asian, Africa and other continents to the Caribbean, and the Caribbean is totally unprepared for this invasion. Even the Caribbean’s most iconic creature, its turtles are threatened by climate change and foreign predators.

The environment is struggling with the effects of droughts, windstorms and flooding, forest fires, and the destruction of wildlife habitat everywhere. The challenges faced by man and beast alike seem overwhelming and highly expensive too. Will our governments be willing to fully fund those necessary projects to protect all that is within our environment, passing laws that protect and regulate the management of our endangered environment? Will they be willing to find such management projects?

The farming community is acting to inform and challenge their membership in this struggle, managing their farming methods, livestock and soil rotation. Communities adopt marshlands and rivers within their regions. Intentions may not be enough. Invasive species continue to expand their territories, engulfing our domestic species at an escalating rate. Only the education of students, the public, and Industry can initiate and establish enduring programs with the government and scientific communities’ direction and leadership.