This year’s stats are in for SSISC’s 2015 Invasive-free Certification Workshops:
- 6 workshops were held in June and July (1 held in Squamish, 5 in Whistler).
- 22 companies and 103 individuals participated. 4 of these were new to SSISC’s Invasive-free Certification program.
- Topics discussed at the workshops included: existing invasive species to be aware of, new species like the European fire ant and Nutria; treatment methods and species specific approaches, proper disposal and reporting sightings.
Participants who attended the workshops received an information pack with a copy of the SSISC ID & Management Guide, species specific management recommendations for species like Japanese knotweed, stickers, and decals for their work vehicles. Plant samples were shown for hands-on learning. A number of participants helped out after these sessions by actively removing invasives and/or reporting locations to SSISC.
Through the certification workshops, we have definitely increased the number of trained eyes on the ground.