As part of the Invasive Species Centre’s 10-Year Anniversary, the Invasive Species Centre has awarded 24 microgrants of $1,000 each to support invasive species education and community action in Ontario. We’re featuring these projects throughout the year to help amplify the exciting microgrant project work being completed this year to support prevention and management of invasive species.
Current feature:
With support from one of our ISC Education and Community Action Microgrants, Ontario Nature is partnering with members of the Ingersoll District Nature Club (IDNC) to host an invasive species removal event, focusing on buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) at the Lawson Nature Reserve near Ingersoll.
Ontario Nature staff will educate event participants on why invasive species like buckthorn and garlic mustard negatively impact ecosystems. IDNC members can then put their community science skills to work by identifying areas where buckthorn and garlic mustard are located in their area, then removing the invasive species.
Moving forward, this will assist the IDNC to identify and manage these invasive species to help maintain a healthy ecosystem at the Lawson Nature Reserve.
The Education and Community Action Microgrant has been a successful tool in helping communities learn about invasive species. Here are some quotes from staff and participants:
Sheila (Participant and Past President of Ingersoll District Nature Club):
“The most useful part of the event was learning to identify invasive species with great nature leaders. It was a great experience and the best way to spend a Saturday morning!”
Gabriella (Nature Reserves Coordinator, Ontario Nature):
“Teaching participants about invasive species and showing them how to use tools like extractigators empowers volunteers to conduct invasive species removal on not only Ontario Nature properties, but their own! It allows them to teach their friends and families what they have learned and spread the word about the negative ecological impacts of species like buckthorn and garlic mustard. This event would not have been possible without the ISC microgrant that Ontario Nature used to purchase the extractigators.”
Ontario Nature protects wild species and spaces through conservation, education, and engagement. They have 26 properties that they own and manage, from central Ontario near St. Joseph Island, to Pelee Island.
Learn more about Ontario Nature by visiting their website here.
To learn more about all the recipients of the Education and Community Action Microgrant Awards for Ontario, visit our ISC 10 Microgrants webpage.
