November 7th, 2008 - More than 100 participants joined an engaging international research forum on invasive plants held Oct. 29th-30th at the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond, British Columbia.

Discussions surrounding the growing issue of invasive plants on fragile ecosystems and economics helped to identify research projects currently underway as well as future priorities for invasive plant management in BC.

The Invasive Plant Council of British Columbia (IPCBC), a grassroots, non-profit society working collaboratively to build cooperation and coordination of invasive plant management in BC, hosted "Invasive Plant Research in BC: Current Projects and Future Trends."

Executive director for the IPCBC, Gail Wallin, explained that based on feedback from participants, "there is a very strong interest among invasive plant managers and researchers from across the Pacific Northwest, the United States, and as far as Switzerland to develop shared future priorities for research to combat invasive plants."

"Successful research projects and information on those successes need to be shared across borders for greater collaboration and improved management practices," added Wallin. 

Key priorities for research in BC identified at the forum include the impact of invasive plants on species at risk; improving public awareness of invasive plants; and creating a consensus of appropriate restoration methods for infestation sites based on the ecology of specific invasive species, among others.

This forum brought together experts in the field of invasive plants from around the globe, including researchers, biologists, agrologists, foresters, forest technologists, ranchers, horticulturalists, gardeners, naturalists, government, stakeholders, and interested individuals.

Highlights of the forum included over 20 high-calibre speakers, with international speakers from Switzerland, across the United States, and the Pacific Northwest. Discussions focused on biological control research, new approaches for invasive plant management, economic impacts research, and an overview of research projects currently in progress in BC.

Keynote speakers included agrologist and consultant, Brian Wikeem, recipient of the 1992 Agrologist of the Year Award from the BC Institute of Agrologists, who has led a 30-year career in grassland ecology and non-native plant species in BC.

Wikeem gave a lively presentation on the history of invasive plants in BC and future research needs. The progression of invasive plants in BC began, he said, with the fur trade of the early 1800s during European occupation, followed by the gold rush of 1858, and the increased movement of resources and people. Management practices to combat invasive plants began in the 1940s with chemical control. The use of biological agents evolved in 1951, when Chrysolina beetles were introduced on the invasive plant, St. John's-wort, near Edgewood, BC, which provided successful control. Since then, more than 70 biocontrol agents have been released on 21 invasive plant species in BC.

According to Wikeem, further research is needed to predict emerging invasive plants, and long-term financial support and human resources are necessary to improve invasive plant management in BC. 

Studying the specific ecology of invasive species is key to greater understanding and appropriate, integrated management for wildland ecosystems, said keynote speaker, Roger Sheley, who is a Rangeland Weed Ecologist with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture Research Service in Burns, Oregon.

Understanding the processes that help establish invasive species as dominant over nearby native plants will, he says, be critical in applying well-designed control treatments, which over time can shift the balance away from unwanted invasive weeds and toward desirable species.

Urs Schaffner, head of the Ecosystems Research Section at CABI Europe-Switzerland, Delémont, Switzerland, was a third keynote speaker, offering insight into the field of biocontrol and insect-plant interactions.

According to Schaffner, any control method, including biocontrol, should be considered as an integrated component of a well-designed management strategy, not as a cure by itself. In most cases, combinations of different management tools will be needed to produce acceptable levels of overall invasive plant control and to restore desirable species communities.

The forum was a tremendous success, raising the profile of invasive plants among researchers in BC.

"I left the forum inspired by the excellent talks, discussions and contacts made and am very glad to have a part in making the 5-year research road-map for BC," said participant, Haley Catton, who is working on her PhD at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Catton's PhD focuses on the non-target effects of the successful biological control agent, a root-feeding weevil (Mogulones cruciger), on hound's tongue, which is an invasive plant in BC.

"The IPCBC research forum was an excellent gathering of experts, practitioners and stakeholders working together to solve the economic and ecological problems caused by invasive plants in BC," she said, adding that "we need to research what makes conditions less favourable for invasive plants to minimize their damaging effects, or else they will just keep growing back!"

The objectives of this forum were to provide a venue for invasive plant managers in BC and across borders to discuss invasive plant research that is currently underway in BC and the Pacific Northwest; to identify gaps in research that is required to inform successful invasive plant management; and to provide next steps for invasive plant research in BC.

Invasive plants grow rapidly and spread quickly, causing damage to the environment, economy and our health; they are the second greatest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss.

Successful events like this forum will help the IPCBC to continue its efforts to minimize the introduction and spread of invasive plants that are costing British Columbians millions of dollars each year in management costs and lost productivity to industry.

The IPCBC has experienced phenomenal growth since its inception in 2004. Membership as grown to almost 1000 individuals and 300 organizations! Membership is free and open to anyone willing to work collaboratively to respond to the growing threat of invasive plants in BC. Find out more at www.invasiveplantcouncilbc.ca!

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For more information, contact the Invasive Plant Council of BC (IPCBC):

www.invasiveplantcouncilbc.ca • (250) 392-1400 • This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it