The Green Shovels Collaborative is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals to the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund. Invasive Phragmites is considered one of Canada’s worst invasive plant species. Phragmites is a tall, rapidly growing plant, often seen along roadsides which crowds out native species. Its dense growth can affect agriculture, tourism, biodiversity, cause road safety hazards, and impact recreational activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing. 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 last year’s funding which supported 11 projects. This investment led to the control of more than 100 acres of Phragmites and another 135 acres are anticipated to be controlled in 2022 as a result of investments in equipment upgrades, equipment purchases, training, and management planning.
“Many community groups and organizations are actively helping to reduce the negative impacts Phragmites has on our natural spaces,” says Sarah Rang, Executive Director at the Invasive Species Centre. “Working together is key when trying to control invasive species and the Green Shovels Collaborative is pleased to once again be able to support control efforts across Ontario.”
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 (DUC), the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA), the Invasive Species Centre (ISC), the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), the Ontario Invasive Plant Council, and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH). Invasive species are considered the second greatest threat to biodiversity and are estimated to cause $3.6 billion in impacts to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, health care, and tourism and recreation in Ontario annually.
The Invasive Phragmites Control Fund is open for applications until Friday, August 5, 2022. The Fund will distribute $40,000 total with grants of up to $10,000 each to support on-the-ground control programs. This Fund is made possible with support from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Interested applicants can visit the Green Shovels website (www.greenshovels.ca) to learn more about eligibility and how to apply.
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 dense monoculture stands that can out-compete other species, including species at risk, and lead to ecological dead zones.
Ontario’s wetlands provide numerous socio-ecological services which are impacted by Phragmites. These services include flood and stormwater management, nutrient management, recreation and tourism, and natural heritage protection.
Phragmites will also spread rapidly along roadsides and shorelines where it can block drivers’ sight lines and affect property values, recreational boating, and marina operations. Phragmites stands can even dry out and may become a fire hazard for Ontario communities.
For more information and to discuss the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund, please contact:
Karen Alexander
Policy Coordinator
Invasive Species Centre
kalexander@invasivespeciescentre.ca
