Laurie Carr, executive director of the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS), finds her work rewarding because the solutions are often straightforward and tangible, and there is something that everyone can do – no matter how small – to protect our ecosystems.
“I enjoy working with invasive species because the solutions are a bit like low-hanging fruit; there are actions that can happen quite easily, but the impact on biodiversity is extensive, so it is satisfying in that way," she said.
She became involved with CKISS a decade after moving to the West Kootenays, serving as president of the board of directors for five years, before joining the staff team six years ago.
CKISS provides a co-ordinated approach to managing invasive species in the region, in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Prevention is the main goal, so education and collaboration are major areas of focus. They also run a large field program doing hands-on control work.
“We are a one-stop shop for invasive species issues, which allows us to bring all the partners involved with land management together. This enables us to coordinate prevention and management and create efficiencies," said Carr.
She emphasizes the collaborative nature of invasive species management, as everyone has a role to play.
"We always work from a multi-partner focus, because invasive species management spans multiple jurisdictions," she said. "Every individual, as well as every organization, has a role to play, because we are all spreading invasive species – whether it is through transportation, plants in our yards, boating and fishing, or other kinds of recreation such as hiking. That is where the public engagement comes from – taking action is great for building community.”
Carr also noted “Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) provides important networking opportunities, which support our collaborative focus, and has been a consistent supporter of CKISS. The funding through the RDCK Local Conservation Fund, which KCP co-administers, has been very beneficial for CKISS to run new and ongoing programs.”
The BroomBasher program, for example, will continue into its second year with support from the Local Conservation Fund.
“This is a fun community-building project, and we have had great response from the public so far," she said. "Because scotchbroom is flammable, we are collaborating with the FireSmart program this year, to support our common goals.”
She added, "Community invasive species pulls and planting events are great because people get together to do something in their neighbourhood, and it builds community and hope around environmental issues.”
Carr is also excited about the launch of their new program called Poison Hemlock Patrol: Cash for Conservation which aims to eradicate poison hemlock in the region. The infestation is centred in Creston, and while still at a relatively low level in the region, is of agricultural concern because of the plant’s toxicity to both people and livestock. To inspire and encourage more public involvement, CKISS is preparing to pilot the Crowdsorsa Mobile app in Canada. This app has been used in Finland to engage the public in removing invasives. Depending on how much people remove, they can get paid through the app.
“Crowdsorsa has great potential as an educational tool for increasing public engagement in a way that provides the necessary information and incentives so that people can take initiative in mitigating the effects of the growth and spread of poison hemlock," said Carr. "It is a strategic pathway for engagement that is more hands-off for us, and I am excited because we have never attempted this level of eradication before.”
Carr has been instrumental in getting the Regional Invasive Species Working Group started, an initiative for elected officials in the RDCK and the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary.
“It is great to be working with the local governments, looking at issues on a regional level," she said. "I am deeply grateful to the elected officials for the work they put in to support our ecosystems and economy. Local governments have a lot of responsibility for decision-making and have jurisdiction over many areas, including private land, so this working group is an important step in an effective regional management plan for invasive species.”
