Taking Action from Coast to Coast Paula Noel

Taking Action from Coast to Coast! Paula Noel, Secretary CCIS and Barry Gibbs, Executive Director, CCIS

Canadian Council on Invasive Species Background • Originally the ‘National Invasive Species Working Group’ • Created after a joint meeting in 2009 at the call of ten provinces and two territories • ‘Canadian Council on Invasive Species’ (CCIS) established in 2012. Registered as a national Non-Profit.

CCIS Partners Working together to improve coordination among provinces and territories across Canada, and beyond borders

Canadian Council on Invasive Species What We Do • Link non-government councils and federal/provincial/territorial governments coast to coast • Work on national action plans • Focus on pathways (i. e. horticulture, recreational boating) • Educational / information sharing events (i. e. forums, Spotters Network training) • Improve coordination among provinces and territories across Canada and beyond borders National Invasive Species Forums 2014 Weeds Across Borders

National Action Plan The National Invasive Species Action Plan outlines key actions moving forward on the following national priorities: • • National Network National Communication Strategy National Education and Awareness National Reporting

Three Major Initiatives • National Taking Action • Horticulture Framework • Spotters Network Framework

National Taking Action Plan The National Taking Action Plan outlines the main education and outreach strategies recommended for invasive species management plans across Canada and identifies the following goals and objectives: • Canadians adopt new behaviours that block targeted pathways for the introduction and spread of invasive species • Consistent messaging and branding across Canada for all programs • Community Based Social Marketing (CBSM) principles and practices become the cornerstone for development of pathway focused prevention programs

National Taking Action Plan Goals and Objectives (cont’d): • Development of a website-based national resource centre highlighting targeted pathways of introduction and spread: – Horticulture - gardening, landscaping – Recreation - trail-use, hunting, fishing, camping, bicycling – Field work and equipment movement – Boating and water activities – Pet and Aquarium trade – Forestry and Firewood

National Horticulture Framework The National Horticulture Framework provides guidance in support of the following national goals: • Develop and promote partnerships between horticulture/nursery associations and the CCIS • Promote branding, information sharing, resource consistency, and standard messaging • Educate gardeners, garden retailers, nurseries, growers, landscape industry • Develop a national voluntary code of conduct for nurseries and retailers

National Spotters Network The National Spotters Network is a framework for a national citizen science program across Canada to identify and report invasive species. Network Goals: • Raise public awareness about invasive alien species • Encourage and support the development and promotion of spotters networks in all Canadian provinces/territories • Promote unity and coordinate information sharing amongst provincial/territorial spotters networks, and ultimately, • Contribute to an increased national capacity for early detection and rapid response (EDRR)

National Invasive Alien Species Workshop • CCIS co-organized the National IAS Workshop held on February 25 th, 2016 in Ottawa • Involved over 60 organizations from across the country

National IAS Workshop Outcomes Workshop participants worked together to identify key priority areas, specific actions, key players and desired outcomes to address IAS in Canada. In summary, the top priority areas for immediate action were identified as : 1. Interjurisdictional Coordination and Funding 2. Education and Awareness 3. Emergency Response, Operations and Pathways 4. Coordination, collaboration and strategic partnerships

National IAS Workshop Outcomes Other specific priority actions included: 5. Development of a rapid response fund 6. Permanent establishment of the IAS Task Force 7. Expanding the role of the CCIS 8. Creating and maintaining a network of experts 9. Conducting research to help understand the true socio-economic impact of IAS

Current CCIS priorities • Expanding membership • Implement Taking Action Plan – National resources addressing pathways • Develop funding • Coordination / networking

CCIS Executive • Gail Wallin, CO-CHAIR, CCIS, Invasive Species Council of British Columbia • Kellie Sherman, CO-CHAIR, CCIS, Ontario Invasive Plant Council • Chet Neufeld, TREASURER, CCIS, Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council • Paula Noel, SECRETARY, CCIS, New Brunswick Invasive Species Council Contact us at info@canadainvasives. ca www. canadainvasives. ca