horticulture - cciscanadainvasives.ca/documents/ccis_horticulture... · b. goals and objectives for...

Conseil Canadien des Espèces Exotiques Envahissantes

HorticultureAction Plan

2014-2019

HEALTHY GARDENPhoto: J.Leekie

Taking Action from Coast to Coast to Coast! | Passer à l’action d’un océan à l’autre et plus

Conseil Canadien sur les Espèces Envahissantes


CANADIAN COUNCIL ON INVASIVE SPECIESc/o #100-197 North 2nd Avenue, Williams Lake, BC V2G [email protected]

iwww.canadainvasives.ca

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1

B. Goals and Objectives for a national network/approach ........................... 1

C. Accomplishments ...................................................................................................... 2

• Statusofhorticulturalinvasiveplant/ species programs across Canada ................................................................. 2

D. Recommendations .................................................................................................... 4

• Compileandcomparebaselineinformation.......................................... 4 • Identifygaps......................................................................................................... 4 • Identifykeynationalpartnersandactions............................................. 4 • Identifynationalapproaches........................................................................ 4 • Campaigns............................................................................................................. 4 • Outreachandactionitemsforkeytargetaudiences .......................... 4

• Communications ........................................................................................................ 5

• DesiredFeaturesoftheWebSite................................................................. 5 • AccesstoDocuments........................................................................................ 5 • FacilitateCommunicationwithKeyAudiences..................................... 5

• SocialMedia ................................................................................................................. 5

CCIS HORTICULTURE ACTION PLAN 2014-2019 1

A. INTRODUCTION

The Canadian Council on Invasive Species (CCIS) works collaborativelyacrossjurisdictionalboundariestosupportactions and information that can help reduce the threat and impactsofinvasivespecies.TheHorticultureSub-Committeewas designed to educate gardeners, garden retailers, nurseries, growersandthelandscapeindustrytobetterunderstandthe problem with garden invasives and encourage the use of alternative non-invasive plants. This sub-committee was also created to promote information sharing and standard messaging amongst the provincial horticulture outreach groups.

This Horticulture Action PlanfortheCCISrecommendsprioritiesbasedoneachProvincialCouncil’scurrent horticulture programs whilst encouraging new national actions. The level of excellence in communicationwilldirectlyaffectthesuccessoftheCCISHorticultureprogramandthelevelofparticipationbynurseriesacrossCanada.ThisHorticultureActionPlanwillbeusedtobuildonthe successes of other horticulture programs in order to create an all-inclusive plan for the entire country.

ThegoaloftheCCISisto:• PromotetheobjectivesoftheInvasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada, including

prevention,earlydetection,rapidresponseandmanagement–containment,controlanderadication.

The recommendations in this document include both provincial and national actions. It is anticipatedthattheCCISwillactastheleadforprojectdelivery,asprioritized,withfinancialandin-kind assistance from a network of collaborators through the provincial councils as required.

B. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR A NATIONAL NETWORK/APPROACH

UndertheguidanceoftheHorticultureSub-Committee–thegoalsoftheNationalHorticultureNetworkaretoencouragetheProvincialCouncilsto:

• Developandpromotepartnershipsbetweennationalandprovincialhorticulture/nurseryassociations,theCCISanditsprovincialmembers

• Promotebranding,informationsharing,resourceconsistency,andstandardmessagingamongst the provincial horticulture outreach groups.

• Educategardeners,gardenretailers,nurseries,growers,andthelandscapeindustryto:• Understandwhatinvasiveplantsare,whythey’reaproblem,andwhattheycando

to prevent their spread;• Stopbuyingandsellinginvasiveplants;• Promotethesaleandpurchaseofnon-invasivealterativeplants;• Controlorreplaceinvasiveplantspecies;and• Disposeofunwantedplants/plantmaterialproperly.

• Developanationalvoluntarycodeofconductfornurseriesandretailers.• Recognizethelargernationalgroupsparticipatingintheprogram.



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C. ACCOMPLISHMENTS

CurrentlytheHorticultureSub-Committeehasheldinformalmeetingstocompileinformationonthe status and need of horticultural programs across Canada.

Thefollowingwereourobjectivesforthe2013/2014FiscalYear.• BegintoestablisharelationshipwithnationalgroupssuchastheCanadianNursery

LandscapeAssociation;CanadianOrnamentalPlantFoundation;InternationalPlantPropagatorsSociety;CanadianSocietyofLandscapeArchitects;GrowersCanada;andGarden Centres Canada.

• Shareresourcesandinformation.

Status of horticultural invasive plant/species programs across Canada British Columbia The BC PlantWise program is designed to prevent the introduction and spread of invasiveplantsthroughhorticulturepathways,specificallythroughthebuying,selling,trading, gifting and moving of invasive plants. The program encourages responsible horticultureindustryandconsumerbehaviours,namelychoosingtoutilizesafe,non-invasive plant alternatives in place of invasive plants. The program is based on theGrowMeInstead(GMI)resourceandincludestargetedtoolsforindustryandconsumers.IndustrytoolsincludeaVoluntaryCodeofConduct,CertificationManual,on site PlantWise orientation, and in store resources such as shelf talkers and signs whichidentifynon-invasivealternativespecies.TheconsumerprogramincludesaselectionofresourcesmodeledaftertheGrowMeInstead(GMI)booklet,namelyaGMISnapshotpamphlet,GMIfoldingwalletcard,andvariousbestmanagementpracticedocumentsforspecificspeciesofhorticulturalconcern.

TheISCBCPlantWiseprogramiscreatingprovincialpartnerships,educatingstewardshipandcommunitygroups,andestablishanetworkofPlantWiseAmbassadorsacrosstheprovincethatareinformedandactiveinconveyingthe PlantWise message to the public and in distributing associated resources atgardeningandstewardshiprelatedeventsandmeetingsthroughoutBC.KeyelementsoftheprogramincludePlantWiseandGrowMeInstead(GMI)initiativesrelatedtothehorticultureindustryandplanttradeaspartoftheoverallchangingbehaviourprogram.PlantWiseProgramoutcomeswillinclude:anestablishednetworkofPlantWiseAmbassadors;trainingmodulespreparedandreadyforinpersonandonlinedelivery;developmentofaregularwebinarseries;andcommitmentsbyindividualsandorganizationstopurchaseonlynon-invasiveplantalternativesatgardencentersandrelatedoutlets.

ISCBCwillprovideprovincialprogrammingthrough:directcontactwithinterestedgroups;openwebinars,trainingmodules,andcurriculum;andonlineresources.ISCBCispartneringwiththeMasterGardenersofBCanditssixconstituentChapterstoincludePlantWiseinitsMasterGardenerBasic Training Program curriculum and to distribute PlantWise resources at relevant events, meetings and presentations.


AlbertaCurrentlythereisnoformalprograminplacebuttheAISCdoeshaveabrochurecalledweedwise,whichhasbeendistributedbyLandscapeAlberta.

SaskatchewanFiveyearsagoSaskatchewanheldaworkshopinpartnershipwiththeNatureConservancy,andfromtheretheydevelopedaVoluntarycodeofconductprogramfor nurseries.

ManitobaHasbegunworkingwiththeHorticulturalindustry,butstillhasnoformalprogram.

OntarioTheOntarioGrowMeInsteadProgramwascreatedtoinformthepublicandgarden retailers of the problem with invasive horticultural plants, and provide themwiththeinformationtheyneedtoconfidentlychoosenon-invasivealternativeplants.Theprogramconsistsoftwoguidebooks(onefornorthernOntarioandoneforsouthernOntario),acannedpresentation,andanurseryrecognitionprogram.TheNurseryRecognitionProgram(NRP)TheNRPrecognizesnurseriesthatcarryandpromotethesaleofthenon-invasiveandnativegardenplantsfeaturedintheGrowMeInsteadguide.Thesenurseriesare provided with posters, guides and cards to help educate their clients of the alternativesintheirgardencentre.SinceitbegantheNRPhasbeenexpandedin stages across Ontario and was expanded again this summer through our local coordinator partners. There are now 33 Nurseries signed on to the program throughoutSouthernOntario.Afulllistofparticipatingnurseriescanbefound on the OIPC website on the Gardeners and Horticulturalist page. www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca

QuebecNo formal program at this time

Newfoundland and LabradorNo formal program at this time

New BrunswickNo formal program at this time

Nova ScotiaNo formal program at this time

PEINo formal program at this time

YukonNo formal program at this time

Northwest TerritoriesNo formal program at this time

NunavutNo formal program at this time.

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D. RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Compile and compare baseline informationInordertoassesstheeffectivenessofactions,projectsandcampaignsundertakenbyCCIS,baselineinformationisneededthroughasummaryofinformationonexistingoutreachactivitiesrelatedtonurseryprogramsacrossCanada.Currentlythestateofeachprovincialcampaignisknownandthiswillhelptoguidewhatisneededtoimplementastrongnationalcampaign.Ideallybaselineinformationshouldbecollectedforfuturecomparisoninthefollowingareas:

• Identifyandpromoteexistingprovincialandnationalinitiativesforengagingourtargetaudiences, and their effectiveness.

• Identifywillingnessfornurseriestoadoptthe“GrowMeInstead”orotherconsistenthorticultural messaging.

2. Identify Gaps and OpportunitiesBycompilingandcomparingbaselineinformationtheCCIScansummarizetheinformationcollected in order to better understand where the gaps and opportunities lie.

3. Identify Key national Partners and actionsByidentifyingthekeynationalpartnersandactionsforthiscampaigntheCCISwillbeabletoprioritizemessagingandtargetaudiences.

4. Identify recommended national approachesNationalBranding:ConsistentbrandingwillhelpshowthattheProvincesareunitedagainstinvasivehorticulturalplantsandhelpcustomersrelatethedifferentmessaging.(createtemplates)

Changeindustrybehavior:i. Develop a National Code of Conduct:intendedforindustrymemberstotheircommitment

to becoming invasive free. ii. Develop a National certification: Voluntaryprogramforindustrytobecomeinvasivefreeiii. Provide National Recognition: certifiedindustrywillberecognizedbytheirprovincial

councilandtheCCIS

5. Campaigns• Developanationalcampaignaimedatgardenersandnurseriesemphasizingalternatives

toinvasivehorticulturalspeciesthroughtheprovincial“GrowMeInstead”campaigns,incollaborationwiththeotherprovincialinvasiveplantcouncils.MessagingandinformationshouldbepostedonlineontheCCISwebsite,ourprovincialwebsitesandourpartnersi.e.CNLA

• UseCommunityBasedSocialMarketingtoencouragebehaviouralchange.

6. Outreach and Actions for Key Target Audiences• Seekcommitmentsfromthetargetaudiencestoencouragethechangeofbehaviorthrough

theVoluntaryCodeofConduct.• Productionofmaterialstospreadthewordaboutgardeninvasiveplants,theirimpactsand

suggested alternatives is an important aspect of a successful horticulture action plan, but distributing those materials to the correct target audience and seeking a resulting change in


behaviorisjustasimportant.Somevenuesofferanopportunitytointeractwithkeytargetaudiences.Projectsthatcouldbedeliveredtoourkeytargetaudiencescanbedisseminatednationallyorprovincially:

NATIONAL

• Createatoolkitwhichwouldincludetemplatesofthevoluntarycodeofconductandcertificationmanualthatcanbeadaptedbytheprovincialcouncils to suit their needs.

• Focusonnationalbrandingcampaign.• developacommonlogo• developacommonbrandingcampaignforattractingindustry• Composearticlesforgardeningmagazinesandnewslettersinclude

reference to our website. • Websitelinks:seekopportunitiestoplacekeyintroductoryinformationonthe

websitewithnationallinks(CNLA)havethesesiteslinktotheCCISsite.

PROVINCIAL

• WiththehelpofthenationaltoolkitcustomizetheCodeofConductandcertificationmanualandprovidetointerestedindustrypartnersinconjunctionwithindustrytrainingtools.

COMMUNICATIONS

Desired Features of the Website • Developwebpagesthatsupportcurrentcampaigns,andretaininformationthatremains

valuableafteracampaignisfinished.• LinktoprovincialCouncilsandtheirGrowMeInsteadorHorticulturePrograms• LinktoCNLAandotherpartners

Access to Documents• Postdocumentsthroughoutthewebsite,linkedtoothercouncilsites.

Facilitate Communication with Key Audiences• Encouragetheplacementoflinkstoourwebsite(orpageswithinit)fromthewebsitesthat

arefrequentedbymembersofourtargetaudiences(i.e.GardenPlantNurseries;Landscapeindustry)

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Identifyrelevantpartnersusingsocialmediatodistributemessages&materials• Usesocialmediachannelstoengageinconversationwithkeypartnersandsharetheir

messages(createreciprocalrelationship).• Usekeywordsandphrases(&include“hashtags”#)tohelpreachtargetedaudiences