Sault Ste. Marie, ON – Ontario shorelines, wetlands and roadsides are increasingly taken over by tall, dense stands of common reed phragmites, sometimes referred to as Canada’s worst invasive plant species. Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and are estimated to cause $3.6 billion in impacts to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, health care, tourism, and recreation in Ontario annually.
Invasive phragmites is especially problematic as its growth can affect agriculture, tourism, and wildlife, reduce property values, contribute to road safety hazards, and impact recreational activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing.
The Green Shovels Collaborative is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals to the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund for 2023. The Invasive Phragmites Control Fund provides financial support for community action to control invasive phragmites in Ontario. The program is building on the success of two previous years of funding that supported 20 past projects and led to the control of phragmites across the province thanks to investments in on-the-ground control actions, equipment upgrades and purchases, training, and management planning.
The Green Shovels Collaborative is a coalition of conservation organizations that share an interest in preventing and managing invasive species and includes Ducks Unlimited Canada, Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations, Invasive Species Centre, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ontario Invasive Plant Council, and Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.
“Thanks to investments from the Province, the Green Shovels Collaborative is excited to once again support valuable phragmites control efforts across Ontario,” says Sarah Rang, Executive Director at the Invasive Species Centre. “We are looking forward to supporting many community groups working to restore the health of natural areas impacted by invasive phragmites.”
The Invasive Phragmites Control Fund is open for applications until Friday, July 21, 2023. Thanks to financial support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Fund will support grants of up to $10,000 each for on-the-ground control programs. Interested applicants should visit the Green Shovels website (www.greenshovels.ca/phragmitesfund) to learn more about eligibility, informational webinar, and how to apply.
For more information and to discuss the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund, please email Kendra Jolley at the Invasive Species Centre (kjolley@invasivespeciescentre.ca)
More about Invasive Phragmites
- Phragmites spreads rapidly by seed and root fragments (rhizomes) carried by wind, waves, vehicles, heavy equipment, and people. Once established, phragmites can grow into tall, dense monoculture stands that can out-compete other species, including species at risk.
- Ontario’s wetlands provide numerous socio-ecological services which are impacted by phragmites. These services include flood and stormwater management, nutrient management, tourism, and natural heritage protection.
- Phragmites spreads rapidly along roadsides where it can block driver’s sight lines and shorelines where it may reduce and impact property values, recreational boating, and marina operations. Phragmites stands can even dry out and become a fire hazard for Ontario communities.
About the Green Shovels Collaborative
The Green Shovels Collaborative is a coalition of conservation organizations that share an interest in preventing and managing invasive species and includes Ducks Unlimited Canada, Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations, Invasive Species Centre, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ontario Invasive Plant Council, and Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. The Green Shovels Collaborative works to reduce the spread of invasive species, including aggressive invasive phragmites australis (Common reed). The Invasive Species Centre helps coordinate the Green Shovels Collaborative.
