Educational Initiatives
Programs promoted by NWIPC
The NWIPC participates and promotes a number of Canada-wide and provincial initiatives which encourage people to take simple, proactive steps to protect natural ecosystems and biodiversity aimed at preventing the spread of invasive species.
These programs encourage canadians to be play a part in protecting Canada’s outdoor spaces by committing to a particular action or change in behaviour.
We have listed the programs below along with a link to the website for more information.
Play Clean Go
Encourages outdoor enthusiasts to clean their gear, boots, and vehicles to prevent the unintentional transport of invasive plants, insects, and other organisms. Similar programs such as Work Clean Go are aimed at industrial and resource extraction activities.
Clean Drain Dry
Targets water recreationists, advising them to clean, drain, and dry their watercraft and equipment to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The program applies to all watercraft, motorized or manually propelled.
Buy Local Burn Local
Our trees are under threat from invasive forest pests. Moving firewood from one location to another transports tree-killing insects and diseases to new areas resulting in destruction for forests and urban trees. These pests will move slowly on their own but can move long distances very quickly through the transportation of firewood. Best practices include buying and burning local firewood.
Don’t Let It Loose
A campaign to prevent the release of non-native animals and plants by pet owners and gardeners. Sime examples are turtles (red-eared sliders), goldfish, aquatic plants from aquariums and water gardens. It highlights the risks invasive species pose to ecosystems and promotes responsible disposal of unwanted pets and plants
Plant Wise / Grow Me Instead
The Invasive Species Council of BC has developed programs for nurseries and garden centres along with information for gardeners.
PlantWise: A provincial program that supports the horticulture industry’s transition to become invasive-free.
Grow Me Instead is an important component of the PlantWise program and supports gardeners and the horticulture industry in reducing the distribution of invasive plants.
