A charitable organization wants to use Invasive Species Awareness Week to mobilize concerned citizens in the Georgian Bay area.
Georgian Bay Forever is calling on cottagers and residents around the bay to join the fight against Phragmites this week.
The tall fast growing plants are increasingly taking over along local highways and on coastlines. They literally choke the life out of sensitive coastal wetlands. The plant originated in Europe, and is taking root in Ontario. It is threatening to destroy fish and wildlife habitat and alter wetland hydrology. The nutrient bully disperses a chemical from its roots that harm other plants.
“Georgian Bay is home to some of Canada's most pristine coastal wetlands,” says Georgian Bay Forever Executive Director David Sweetnam. “Many creatures and organisms depend on these wetlands for life-sustaining activities including food and foraging, nurseries, spawning, shade, and shelter. We are extremely concerned about the threat of invasive Phragmites and are particularly concerned about the effects on the health of Georgian Bay's coastal wetlands. They need to be controlled or eradicated to help protect the natural environment that is so sensitive to this kind of deadly disruption.”
Phragmites can grow up to 15 ft high, blocking views and access to waterfronts.
“We’re confident that a concerted effort to educate Ontarians about the threat of this invasive plant, and proper training on how to control or eradicate it will go a long way to restoring the health of many affected coastal wetlands in and around Georgian Bay,” says Sweetnam. “We hope people take the time to mark World Wetlands Day by taking action to support healthy coastal wetlands and visiting our websites so they can learn about the threat and how to join or support the fight.”
You can go to georgianbayforever.org to learn proper ways to identify and destroy the weed.