Welcome to the Introduction to Invasive Species online training course. This course has been developed by the BC Inter-Ministry Invasive Species Working Group (IMISWG). The goal of the course is to increase the awareness and implementation of responsible actions related to invasive species prevention and management by government staff, contractors, and volunteers working on provincial public lands.

Do you know what invasive species are and why we should care about them? Even if you do, this training is a great place to learn about the impacts of invasive species, and what you can do to prevent them. Everyone has a role to play in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species, including YOU!

About the Training

Non-native, exotic, alien, introduced—no matter what you choose to call them, non-native species are plants, animals, and other organisms that are outside their natural range. While some non-native species are desirable and even beneficial, such as garden crops, other non-native species are invasive and cause significant damage to BC’s environment, people, and economy.

So, let’s be clear—what are invasive species? They are plants, animals, and other organisms that are not native to BC, or are found outside areas where they naturally occur, AND that cause negative social, cultural, economic, and environmental impacts. We will be exploring these impacts in detail throughout the course.

In their native environments, these organisms typically have limiting factors such as predators, diseases, and competitors that co-evolved with them, which keep these species in check. When these species are transported to a new environment, these limiting factors are usually left behind, allowing the transported species to spread and dominate with nothing to keep them in check. Invasive species have abilities such as rapid reproduction and tolerance of a wide range of environmental conditions that allow them to outcompete native species for resources such as food, light, and water, enabling them to take areas over.

An invasive plant may also be called a weed, a loosely defined term that typically refers to any plant that is undesirable or growing somewhere it is not wanted. In BC, legislation defines the term “noxious weeds” as the invasive plants specifically listed in the BC Weed Control Act Regulation. More fun and interesting facts about legislation will come later in this training!

Continue with Lesson A

BC’s land and water are being affected by invasive species. We are all stewards of our province, and all of us play a role in ensuring that our environment, people, and economy are protected.

Impacts

Invasive species threaten many of our social, cultural, environmental, and economic values. Invasive species cost the global economy billions of dollars every year. They are a top threat to biodiversity, impact culturally and socially important areas, and can threaten human health in various ways, including through stings, burns, or poisonings.

Stopping invasive species before they arrive is the best thing we can do. It’s common sense, really—it’s easier to prevent something than fix it after it happens!

Prevention is recognized as the most cost-effective way to manage invasive species worldwide. Once an invasive species arrives to a new area and becomes established, it can be extremely difficult and costly to remove it. Preventing the introduction of invasive species—and reacting quickly should one be detected—is the best approach to avoiding or reducing impacts.

Invasive species do not obey boundaries, so managing them requires coordination across many different organizations. The provincial government works together through the BC Inter-Ministry Invasive Species Working Group (IMISWG) to coordinate and collaborate on the delivery of invasive species programs in BC.