Wildsight wrapped up the 2021 Community Invasive Plant Program (CIPP),which aimed to decrease invasive plant infestations while increasing public awareness about the environmental, social and economic impacts invasive plants can have on Golden. The final report outlines the actions and results achieved by our program in 20. The CIPP works in partnership with the Town of Golden and the Columbia-Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS) towards reducing invasive plant populations within the Town of Golden through public outreach, as well as a variety of non-toxic mechanical treatment methods. A total of 226 bags of invasive plants were removed during the 2021 CIPP, bringing the program’s total (since its establishment in 2010), to 2,391 bags of weeds!
Public outreach was an important element of the 2021 CIPP and the CIPP coordinator was responsible for a variety of tasks such as: using the Invasive Alien Plant Program (IAPP) survey forms and methodology to inventory invasive plants on high-priority sites; managing invasive plants at priority sites; planning and facilitating Golden’s Annual Community Weed Pull and educating the public about invasive plants through outreach. Data found online (Invasive Alien Plant Program) suggests that Wildsight Golden’s Community Invasive Plant Program has reduced invasive plant populations within the Town of Golden since its establishment in 2010. The success of the CIPP is due to newly established and strengthened partnerships with community members, organizations. Critical to the success of the CIPP are the partnerships with the CSISS and the Town of Golden. Ongoing communication with both of these partner groups will ensure that the invasive plant management in Golden is manageable, coordinated, and wherever possible, non-toxic.
Overall, the CIPP continues to be effective for managing invasive plant populations within the Town of Golden. Continued partnerships and optimized public outreach will continue to raise awareness about non-toxic methods to control invasive plants.