Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Invasive Plant Committee

Welcome to the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Invasive Plant Committee, a non-profit group that works in cooperation with organizations, First Nations, governments and industry to minimize the negative impacts caused by invasive plants through heightened awareness and improved coordination.

Invasive plants are non-native plants that have been introduced to BC that have detrimental economic, environmental and health effects on humans, livestock and wildlife. Also known as noxious weeds, or alien species, they are far more aggressive than other common garden or lawn weeds. Economic impacts of invasive plants include reduced forage quality and quantity for cattle ranchers, as many invasive plants are unpalatable to livestock. Invasive plants are the second largest threat to biodiversity in the world, due to their ability to out-compete native plants; this threatens habitat for wildlife as native plants are displaced. Common invasive plants in our region include spotted knapweed, diffuse knapweed, oxeye daisy and orange hawkweed. Recent invaders include field scabious, sulphur cinquefoil and marsh plume thistle.

One of the most significant ways that invasive plants are spread is through human activities. Cars and trucks on the highway, all-terrain vehicles and mountain bikes on trail systems, and industrial activities such as logging and gravel extraction can transport and unknowingly disperse weed seeds to new areas. Many invasive plants are garden ornamentals that escape from gardens and invade natural areas.

Invasive species are not native to our region and tend to favour disturbance, grow rapidly, are hard to get rid of and form monocultures, while outcompeting native species. Because they arrive in Canada without their natural predators to keep them in balance, invasive plants and animals can spread rapidly. Specific threats include:

• decreased biodiversity
• altered water flow and leading to erosion and/or less available water
• creating and increasing the fire hazard
• damage to roads and other built structures
• reduction of crop yield
• recreational & tourism trails/areas choked by invasive monocultures
• decreased property values
• a loss of medicinal plants and cultural practices (loss of wild edibles, loss of habitat for wildlife and fish)