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COVID-19 Update:
In-person events are now scheduled with limits on group sizes and with safety precautions in place. Please continue to practice physical distancing while you're at Oakvillegreen events and activities, and wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible. Stay home if you are sick. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our community safe and healthy.
Take Action with Us to Stop the Spread!
Oakvillegreen works with community volunteers to remove common invasive plant species from Oakville parks and greenspace, such as European buckthorn, Garlic mustard, Phragmites, and Dog-strangling vine. We also tackle some insect invaders such as Spongy (LDD) moth.
Every year we remove hundreds of bags of invasive plants with the help of energized volunteers! Their actions have helped to improve our urban forest ecosystems and increase local biodiversity.
Did you know that invasive plant species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity?
Invasive plants invade greenspace and can often out-compete our native species. This can have negative impacts on how our ecosystems function. Many invasive plants cannot be used by wildlife for food which puts pressure on the few native plants that remain. Once invasive plants have taken hold, their thick spread can make it challenging to remove them.
YOU can be part of the solution:
Thank you to the Town of Oakville for supporting our invasive species programs.
Want to learn more? Visit our Learn page, for tips to tackle invasive species on your property and in local greenspace.
What are Invasive Species?
Invasive species, also called invasive alien species, are “non-native species that have been introduced from another geographic region and whose introduction or spread negatively impacts native biodiversity, the economy and or society, including human health” (Ontario Invasive Plant Council, 2016).
Invasive species often have a combination of three characteristics that make them more challenging to manage than non-invasive, non-native species:
- Higher rates of seed production
- Fewer native predators and diseases that keep populations in balance
- Higher levels of adaptability in a variety of environments. In other words, they are generalist species.