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Japanese knotweed

The effort to fight invasive plants is getting a little bump from the B.C. government in the form of a $107,000 grant spread between three organizations.

The Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society (OASISS) will be getting the bulk of that, at $81,300, while the regional districts for the South and Central Okanagan will each be getting around $13,000.

The money will be used to increase public awareness of invasive plants, survey problem plant populations and treat high-priority sites impacted by the destructive plants. It is a part of $1.8 million being distributed across the province to fight invasive species.

“Anyone who works in the agricultural sector can tell you that invasive plants have to be dealt with as quickly as possible before they establish themselves” MLA Dan Ashton said in a news release. “They can destroy natural ecosystems and take away jobs if we do not halt them directly.”

OASISS also recently got a $10,000 grant through the RBC Blue Water Project Grant Program to continue its efforts to educate boaters on the perils of bringing the invasive mussels into B.C.