Maintaining Public Parks Free of High-Priority Invasive Plants
When you think about invasive plant management, you may picture a group of volunteers removing Scotch broom along a roadside or in a clearing. What you don’t see is the behind-the-scenes work to prevent the establishment of new invasive plant species and the spread of existing species into new areas of the island. In this article, we’ll talk about strategies for invasive plant management in public parks, and how you can efficiently manage invasive plants on your own property.
Whenever resources are limited in proportion to the scope of a problem, there needs to be a thoughtful prioritization of actions to maximize the effectiveness of those resources. Invasive plant management on SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island fits soundly into this category, with many widespread and abundant species present. So, we ask ourselves, which species and in which sites should we work in order to have the best result for nature conservation?
Best Practices for Invasive Species Management
Early Detection and Rapid Response
Being on the lookout for new invasive species is a critical part of our work. While plants like daphne, Scotch broom, Himalayan blackberry, and tansy ragwort are already widespread across the island, there are species such as Maltese star thistle, burr chervil, eggleaf spurge, milk thistle, and hound’s tongue that have been observed on or near the island, but that are not yet widespread. If we can eliminate these species or prevent their establishment, we may save countless future hours of management. The value of working together with other community members and partnering organizations to ensure early eradication of these species before they spread cannot be overstated.
Prioritizing Low-Infestation Areas
Strategic investment for invasive plant management dictates that energy should first go to low-density infestations and outlying individuals, working back to areas of high infestation. This prevents low-infestation areas from getting worse and minimizes the overall extent of invasive species cover. Each year, Mayne Conservancy staff complete sweeps for invasive plants throughout 400 acres of public parks and conservation areas, including Mt. Parke, St. John Point, Henderson Hill, Bennett Bay, and soon Edith Point, to prevent the establishment of shade-tolerant species like daphne and English holly.
Prioritizing Continuity of Management
While it can feel urgent to tackle new areas with invasive plant presence, in the long-term continuing to manage existing areas as a priority will result in more reliable reduction of target species and ensure previous efforts do not go to waste. Some of the species we work with, like Scotch broom, can produce over 10,000 seeds per plant, and these seeds can remain viable in the soil for 60-80 years! One year of intensive removal can visually make a difference, but continued maintenance, for example by removal of young seedlings is essential for long-term effectiveness.
Use the Best Removal Methods
In 2018 the Mayne Island Conservancy created a handbook with removal methods for a handful of high-priority species: Scotch broom, daphne, English holly, and bull thistle. These methods are those used by Conservancy staff and are shared with volunteers who work alongside us. Plants are incredibly resourceful, and some invasive species have the ability to re-sprout from roots or other tissue if not removed appropriately. The Conservancy will be working to update the handbook this winter, adding species like tansy ragwort and burr chervil that are not included in the current edition.
How to Get Involved
Volunteer with Restoration Work Parties
With our small but mighty team and so much ground to cover, we rely on incredible volunteers to tackle our restoration projects throughout the year. If you’re interested in learning more about species ID, spending more time outside, and joining a community passionate about stewarding the habitats on SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island, please email us at info@mayneconservancy.ca to be added to our restoration mailing list and learn about upcoming volunteer events.
Participate in the Landholder Consultation Program
Did you know that SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island is 85% privately owned? Our work in public parks has the potential to be even more impactful when done alongside private landholders managing invasive species on their properties. Reach out to Rob Underhill, our resident biologist, at biologist@mayneconservancy.ca to set up a free landholder consultation.
Donate
As a non-profit, our work relies on continued support from people like you to ensure our staff and volunteers can continue their conservation, restoration, and education work. Along with grants, donations from our community help us do our piece in preserving the ecological integrity of SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island.
We would like to extend our appreciation to everyone on the island who has been working hard to control invasive plants on their properties, in their neighbourhoods, and in their parks. Your efforts are valuable!
Learn More
- Ecosystem Restoration – A Personal Perspective by Alistair Marr-Paine
- Prioritizing Invasive Plant Management by Rob Underhill
- Invasive Species Management: Lookalike Plants by Tamara Bonsdorf
- Not So Jolly, English Holly by Maddy Lister
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