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Save Alberta's ecosystems by checking your hiking boots for unwanted 'hitchhikers,' says conservancy group

Nature Conservancy Canada advises travellers to check boots, clothes and equipment for unwanted plants that can harm ecosystems in Alberta.

In an effort to preserve the beautiful ecosystems of Alberta, Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC) asks travellers to help prevent the spread of invasive plants by checking for unwanted hitchhikers on the soles of their boots.

Before venturing out into the wilderness, NCC advises adventurers to check their boots, clothing and gear for loose dirt and seeds. Even fishing gear and flip-flops could unknowingly have weeds wrapped around them.

Several invasive species found in Alberta can dominate ecosystems and destroy the population of native plants, according to NCC. Creeping thistle and orange hawkseed are just a few of the invasive plant species that, when in suitable habitats, can proliferate and wreak havoc on an otherwise healthy ecosystem.

NCC is a land trust that works to conserve privately owned natural spaces through two methods. By either acquiring land directly by purchasing it (or conservation easements where land is voluntarily given), they will manage the landscape to maintain the natural value.

Sean Feagan, a spokesperson for NCC, said one of the main initiatives of the organization in maintaining the land they have are controlling weed species.

“Without active control of these species, they’ll take over sites and reduce habitat and compete with natural species,” Feagan explained.

The NCC rep added that invasive plants can also have a detrimental economic cost on land owners. Like many pastures in Alberta, many of the properties that NCC works with are working landscapes grazed by livestock, usually cattle. Many invasive species are unpalatable or even toxic for cattle.

Efforts to control and eradicate invasive plant species are through integrated pest management, and using control methods like mechanical removal, biological control agents, and appropriate herbicide application.

Creeping thistle is a common invasive plant that can be found between the U.S. and Canadian border, and can also be found at many parks throughout Alberta. Pesticides commonly used by municipalities are not enough to eradicate them. Biological control agents involving the introduction of a pest, (generally an insect to eat the plant) is underway in Alberta, but results remain to be seen.

Anytime ground is disturbed either through gardening or visiting parks, Feagan advises to make sure you are not carrying soil on your person afterwards, as the introduction of seedbeds in loose soil is often how invasive plants are introduced into new ecosystems.

“Cleaning your outdoor gear is a good first step, the second is learning about those invasive plants,” Feagan said.

To help property owners understand if invasive plants are overrunning their land, NCC advises individuals to visit the Alberta Invasive Species Council’s website, which has resources available to the public. Adversely, they download the iNaturalist app to learn about invasive species that can be found around Alberta.

“It is amazing the tools we have at our fingertips and I think it is a great gateway to the world of botany and if you start learning the plants around you it certainly is alarming to know how many are invasive.” Feagan said.

Anyone can help conserve the health of ecosystems by cleaning their boots, and checking their equipment before and after spending time in nature. For more information about NCC’s efforts to conserve nature, restore ecosystems, and fight the spread of invasive species, visit natureconservancy.ca


Daniel Gonzalez

About the Author: Daniel Gonzalez

Daniel Gonzalez joined the Cochrane Eagle in 2022. He is a graduate of the Mount Royal University Journalism program. He has worked for the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta and as a reporter in rural Alberta for the ECA Review.
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