Thanks to an investment from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Invasive Species Centre is supporting 61 new collaborative action projects by community groups, Indigenous organizations, and municipalities on critical invasive species, including invasive plants, aquatic plants, and forest pests.
Through the first round of the Invasive Species Action Fund, we’re pleased to support 151 groups, including 1,400 support staff and volunteers for on-the-ground action to stop invasive species. The funding is supporting 61 Indigenous groups and communities and 72 municipalities and conservation authorities. Projects will engage almost 8,000 people at 104 events, including over 1,800 youth in Ontario in 2023.
Learn more about the funded projects below.
| Organization | Location | Project Name | Project Overview |
| Atikameksheng Anishnawbek | Naughton, ON | Reversing the Spread of Invasive Species in Atikameksheng Anishnawbek | Atikameksheng Anishnawbek will work to reduce the risk of Japanese knotweed by taking action to eradicate the species from reserve lands. |
| Big Cedar Lake Stewardship Association | North Kawartha, ON | Big Cedar Lake Public Boat Launch Invasive Species Weed-Free Boat Channel | Big Cedar Lake aquatic invasive species weed-free channel at the public boat launch. |
| Copeland Forest Friends Association | Coldwater, ON | Improving Recreation at Copeland Forest | This project will improve trail safety for recreational visitors within the Copeland Forest. |
| Corporation of the City of Vaughan | Vaughan, ON | Mapping the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Species in the City of Vaughan | The City of Vaughan monitoring program for the hemlock woolly adelgid species will proactively identify areas affected and create a city-wide strategy to help keep its population under control. |
| County of Simcoe | Midhurst, ON | Managing Dog-strangling Vine and Other Invasives at County of Simcoe’s Tottenham Tract | Controlling dog-strangling vine and other invasive plants in Tottenham Tract to improve the health and plant diversity in the Oak Ridges Moraine Natural Linkage Area. |
| Drag Lake Property Owners’ Association | Haliburton, ON | Identification, Monitoring and Control of Eurasian Watermilfoil on Drag and Spruce Lakes | The Drag Lake Property Owners’ Association project aims to identify, monitor and selectively control Eurasian watermilfoil on Drag and Spruce lakes from June 1 until October 31, 2023. |
| Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, Inc. | Toronto, ON | Simmons Preserve – Invasive Species Management | The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy will be working with the local community and partners to identify and remove buckthorn and scots pine on the Simmons Nature Preserve. |
| Federation of Ontario Naturalists (operating as Ontario Nature) | Halton Hills, ON | Invasive Buckthorn Removal at Wilfrid G. Crozier Nature Reserve | Ontario Nature will reduce the spread of invasive buckthorn at the Wilfrid G. Crozier Nature Reserve, improving habitat within the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve. |
| Federation of Ontario Naturalists (operating as Ontario Nature) | Wainfleet, ON | Controlling Invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid at Harold Mitchell Nature Reserve | Ontario Nature will reduce the infestation of invasive hemlock woolly adelgid at the Harold Mitchell Nature Reserve, conserving the rare mature hemlock forest. |
| Freedom House International Church | Brantford, ON | Giant Hogweed Mitigation Project (GHMP) | GHMP coordinates landowners, volunteers, and authorities, to reduce populations of giant hogweed in the watershed and provide education about identification, removal, and risks, of this plant. |
| Friends & Stewards of Dorchester Park | Brampton, ON | Growing Together Against Invasives: Citizen Empowerment for Plant Removal | Community Stewardship at Dorchester Park through volunteer education and the removal of three invasive plant species. |
| Friends of Second Marsh | Oshawa, ON | Common (European) Buckthorn Management with Community Volunteer Stewardship | Common (European) buckthorn management in the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve through community volunteer stewardship. |
| Friends of Wye Marsh | Midland, ON | Buckthorn Suppression and SAR Habitat Improvement | Contain and suppress invasive buckthorn and restore with native shrubs for the creation of a species at risk turtle nesting site. |
| Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority | Port Hope, ON | GFC Revitalization – Building Long-term Resiliency to HWA, BLD and other Invasive Species Within a Forest Management Context | Monitoring and proactive management of beech leaf disease, hemlock woolly adelgid, and other invasive species to promote resiliency and native species via understory thinning in a mature plantation. |
| Garden River First Nation | Garden River First Nation, ON | Ketegaunseebee Plan for the Prevention and Monitoring of Invasive Species Project | This project is to plan for prevention and monitoring of invasive species in Garden River First Nation. |
| Grand Council Treaty #3 Represenative Services | Kenora, On | Treaty #3 Zebra Mussel Early Detection and Prevention | Grand Council Treaty #3 will work with Treaty #3 communities to collect water samples for early detection of zebra mussel veligers across the Treaty #3 Nation to inform and guide future zebra mussel management. |
| Grand Council Treaty #3 Representative Services | Kenora, ON | Treaty #3 Purple Loosestrife Mapping and Monitoring | Grand Council Treaty #3 will map and monitor invasive purple loosestrife growing across the Treaty #3 Territory to guide future mitigation and removal work. |
| Hamilton Naturalists Club | Hamilton, ON | Managing Invasive Species at Hamilton Naturalists’ Club Nature Sanctuaries | Managing invasive species at Hamilton Naturalists’ Club’s nature sanctuaries will reduce the spread and impact of harmful invasive species in priority areas. |
| Heartland Forest Nature Experience | Niagara Falls, ON | Invasive Purple Loosestrife Community Engagement Removal Project | Heartland Forest’s project will eliminate or impede the invasion of purple loosestrife in our unique Carolinian forest ecosystem through community engagement initiatives. |
| Junction Creek Stewardship Committee Inc. | Sudbury, ON | Empowering Youth in Invasive Species | Provide the knowledge and tools to empower youth to be community stewards and take action against invasive species in the Junction Creek watershed. |
| Kawartha Land Trust | Peterborough, ON | Conserving American Ginseng: Relieving Invasive Species Pressure to Support Isolated Populations | Kawartha Land Trust is protecting critical populations of species from invasive species in our forests using volunteers and expert knowledge to make tangible impacts. |
| Kayanase, div of Grand River Employment & Training Inc | Brantford, ON | The Mohawk Village Memorial Park Naturalization Project | To cover the initial costs for the management of this forest which would divert possible future budget funds to the restoration effort. |
| Kettle Creek Conservation Authority | St Thomas, ON | Tackling Invasive Species at Kirk Cousins Management Area | Kettle Creek Conservation Authority will develop an invasive species management plan for the Kirk Cousins Management Area and initiate the treatment of spotted knapweed and woody invasive species including autumn olive and European and glossy buckthorn on seven acres of the property while engaging local high school students. |
| Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority | Newmarket, ON | Invasive Species Inventory and Mapping on Newly Acquired Conservation Lands | Conduct an inventory and mapping of invasive species distribution and abundance within a newly acquired conservation lands focused on ecological protection. |
| Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority | Newmarket, ON | Expanding Efforts for Wild Parsnip Control Along Trails and in Restoration Areas. | To control wild parsnip spread in a conservation area that is home to a well utilized trail network and recent habitat enhancement projects. |
| Lakehead Region Conservation Authority | Thunder Bay, ON | Identifying and Mapping Narrow-leaved Cattail Stands within Hurkett Cove, Ontario | The intent of the project is to map the existing stands of narrow-leaved cattail within Hurkett Cove and begin consultation with like-minded project partners. |
| Lanark County | Perth, ON | Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail Invasive Plants Stewardship Project | This project will mitigate the effects of invasive plants along the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail to preserve the ecological and recreational value it provides to Lanark County. |
| Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association | Southerwestern Ontario Regionwide | Monitoring for Invasive Species on the Landscape | The Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association project focuses on surveillance and early detection of invasive pests (spotted lanternfly, oak wilt, hemlock woolly adelgid) in central and southern Ontario. |
| Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority | Chatham, ON | Managing New Invasions in the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority | The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority will assess and actively manage recent invasions of Japanese stiltgrass on their property and water lettuce in McGregor Creek. |
| Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) | Chatham, ON | LTVCA Urban Stewardship Invasive Removal Program | This program will engage members of the community in volunteer events to remove woody invasives that threaten to overtake native tall-grass prairies. |
| Lower Trent Region Conservation Authority | Trenton, ON | Allowing Rare and Natural Flora Communities to Thrive Through Removal of Invasive Species | To preserve and protect Sager Conservation Area, a control plan to eradicate dog strangling vine will be implemented to allow natural plant communities, including rare remnant prairie species, to flourish. |
| Maitland Trail Association | Goderich, ON | Control invasive Buckthorn on the Sifto Loop | Kill and remove the vast majority of troublesome buckthorn shrubs on the Compass Mineral property known as the Sifto Loop; supported with future monitoring and control management. |
| Missanabie Cree First Nation | Missanabie, ON | Dog Lake Missanabie Invasive Species Watch | Dog Lake Missanabie Invasive Species Watch is intended to educate anglers coming in to fish on Dog Lake about the invasive species that are infiltrating northern inland lakes. We will have pictures in the pamphlet and will interview them over the course of 5-10 minutes at the boat launches to survey them about the knowledge/awareness of the invasives, whether they have seen them/where, and then we will ask them to do a circle check of their boat before launching to look for these invasives. |
| Niagara Bruce Trail Club | Beamsville, ON | Buckthorn & invasive honeysuckle removal on high priority Bruce Trail Conservancy Nature Reserves | Invasive buckthorn & invasive honeysuckle removal along high priority Bruce Trail Nature Reserves in the Niagara area. |
| Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority | Utopia, ON | Invasive Species Conservation Area Control | The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) will implement best management practices to control targeted invasive species on various active conservation areas throughout our watershed. |
| Oakvillegreen Conservation Association | Oakville, ON | Buckthorn Busters: Buttonbush Woods Restoration Project | Oakvillegreen will be removing invasive buckthorn, providing educational and practical experience to residents and participants, and promoting upcoming native species plantings at the same site. |
| Odoonabii Watershed Stewards | Peterborough, ON | Jackson Park Invasive Species Removal – Phase 2 | The Odoonabii Watershed Stewards will extend the area that is cleared of buckthorn in Jackson Park, Peterborough. This natural park is within the City of Peterborough and invasives have established in several areas. |
| Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters | Peterborough, ON | Responding to Water Soldier in Ontario | Preventing the spread of water soldier in Ontario, responding to new populations detected, and eradicating established populations of water soldier from public waters in Ontario. |
| Ontario Streams | Aurora, ON | European Buckthorn Control and Native Revegetation Project 2023 | Ontario Streams will host events removing European Buckthorn and planting native vegetation in headwater habitats within the Humber River Watershed. |
| Picard Lake Cottage Association (PLCA) | Trent Lake, ON | Picard Lake Cottage Association Eurasian Water Milfoil Mitigation and Control Trial | The Picard Lake Cottage Association is launching a trial program to mitigate and control the spread of Eurasion water milfoil in its lake. |
| ReForest London | London, ON | Buckthorn Busting in London’s Celebration Forest | This project will create space for future naturalization plantings in London’s Celebration Forest through a series of buckthorn busting events with local community groups. |
| Rideau Waterway Land Trust | Elgin, ON | Improve trail viewpoint through Dog-strangling vine removal and the creation of native pollinator garden | The project aims to remove dog-strangling vine, prevent further spread, establish a pollinator garden, and educate visitors about conservation at the James Fullard Nature Reserve. |
| Riverview Park Community Association | Ottawa, ON | Friends of Riverview Park Green Spaces Invasive Eradication Project | The Friends of Riverview park Green Spaces group is working to improve our community greenspaces by combating invasives species. |
| Rotary Club of Uxbridge | Uxbridge, ON | Mechanical Removal of Common Buckthorn in the Trails of Uxbridge | A collaborative, volunteer community effort to mechanically remove and reduce the spread of common buckthorn in the trails of Uxbridge. |
| Severn Sound Environmental Association | Port McNicoll, ON | Severn Sound Community Invasive Shrub & Tree Management | Severn Sound Environmental Association aims to expand capacity for community invasive shrub & tree management through the addition of specialized equipment for community management events. |
| Sharbot Lake Property Owners Association (SLPOA) | Sharbot Lake, ON | Phase 2 Eurasian Water Milfoil Mapping Project | Phase 2 of drone mapping the spread of invasive Eurasian water milfoil in Sharbot Lake, Ontario. |
| The Corporation of the City of Windsor | Windsor, ON | Invasive Species Control Implementation and Early Detection Activities in the Ojibway Prairie Complex | The City of Windsor will implement control of dog strangling vine, Japanese knotweed, and autumn olive, while increasing capacity to detect species on the watch list. |
| The Corporation of the Municipality of McDougall | McDougall, ON | Addressing Japanese Knotweed in the Municipality of McDougall | The municipality will inspect all municipal roadsides for Japanese knotweed, and mitigate where found. |
| The Corporation of the Municipality of Port Hope | Port Hope, ON | Port Hope Waterfront Trail Invasive Species Monitoring and Management | The Municipality of Port Hope is surveying the waterfront and riverwalk trails to complete an Invasive Species Management Plan and complete removals of priority species. |
| The Couchiching Conservancy | Orillia, ON | Invasive Species Monitoring Program Expansion Plan | Couchiching Conservancy will map, monitor, and control the spread of five invasive plants and develop an Invasive plant eradication expansion plan for the future. |
| The Green Herons | St. Catharines, ON | Stop the Sticky Bedstraw Brah | Stickyweed is threatening our marsh and classroom. We strive to keep our ecosystem healthy and will ‘Stop the Sticky Bedstraw Brah’! |
| Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) | Toronto, ON | Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) Threat Assessment and Monitoring Plan | To meet the threat of hemlock woolly adelgid, TRCA is preparing and implementing an HWA Response Plan. |
| Toronto Nature Stewards (TNS) | Toronto, ON | Toronto Nature Stewards – Newtonbrook Creek Ravine Restoration Project | Newtonbrook Creek Restoration Project engages trained volunteers to remove invasive plants to help nature restore itself and allow native plants to thrive. |
| Toronto Nature Stewards, Leaside Park | Toronto, ON | Restoring the Natural Beauty of Leaside Park | We will train local residents to recognize and remove invasive species from Leaside Park, to help restore its natural beauty. |
| Township of King | King City, ON | Dog-Strangling Vine Mitigation at Cold Creek Conservation | King will utilize funding to undertake the identification and mitigation of dog strangling vine, as well as the installation of boot brushes at Cold Creek Conservation Area. |
| Township of Strong | Sundridge, ON | Say No to Japanese knotweed in Sundridge, Strong and Joly | The objective is to sensitize landowners and visitors to the presence of Japanese knotweed, promoting accurate identification of this invasive plant, as well as mapping and action guided by Best Management Practices guidelines. |
| University of Waterloo | Waterloo, ON | Managing Garlic Mustard at the University of Waterloo | This project will manage garlic mustard at the University of Waterloo through workdays where garlic mustard will be removed and native species will be planted. |
| Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) | London, ON | Invasive Species Management, Inventory, Monitoring, Mapping and Community Engagement in the UTRCA Watershed | This project will assist the UTRCA with our lands inventory and conservation area strategy projects as required by the Conservation Authorities Act. |
| West Lake Community Association (WLCA) | Picton, ON | West Lake Invasive Aquatic Vegetation Control and Management Project | To engage organizations securing all ways possible for invasive aquatic species education and safe removal in West Lake threatening lake health and endangered species at risk habitats. |
| Wollaston Lake Home and Cottage Association | Coe Hill, ON | Eurasian Milfoil Remediation – Benthic Mat Installation and Placement of Yellow Transport Canada approved Marker Buoys | The installation of benthic mats in Wollaston Lake, Coe Hill, Ontario, to reduce the prevalence and spread of Eurasian milfoil. |
| Wollaston Lake Home and Cottage Association | Coe Hill, ON | Boating Channel Creation via Mechanical Eurasian Milfoil Harvesting | The creation of a safe boating channel through harvesting of Eurasian milfoil. |