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ISCMV Fall Forum 2024

November 7, 2024 from 10:30am to 12:30pm

ISCMV Fall Forum 2024 photo

Join ISCMV and experts in the field of invasive species management on Zoom for a virtual Fall Forum

Date: Thursday, Nov 7, 10:30am-12:30pm

Registration fee: $10 (recommended donation) donate now

Sign-up to attend our Zoom event here

Presentations will Include:

  • American Bullfrog - Briar Hunter - Ecosystems Bioligist, BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship in the South Coast Region
  • Parrot's Feather - Richard Topp - Conservation Program Specialist, Ducks Unlimited
  • Emerald Ash Borer - Christal Apar - Multi-Program Specialist Inspector, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

View the Full Agenda

Speaker bios:

Briar Hunter

Briar is an Ecosystems Biologist for the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship in the South Coast Region. She sits on the Fish and Aquatic Wildlife team, specializing in reptiles and amphibians. Briar has been working for the province for just over a year and focuses much of her time on coordinating the recovery programs for the endangered Oregon Spotted Frog and the threatened Western Painted Turtle. Prior to this, Briar completed a Master of Biology looking at the genetic and reproductive health in Oregon Spotted Frogs. She also has 3 years of experience in reptile surveying and monitoring from her time in environmental consulting. When not hanging out with reptiles and amphibians, you can find Briar exploring beautiful BC with her dog.

Presentation Summary: The American Bullfrog was originally imported to BC for frog leg farming but have since established throughout the province and become a particularly troublesome invasive species. The largest frog in BC, American Bullfrogs will eat almost anything that fits in their mouth, including our native species at risk like the Oregon Spotted Frog and Western Painted Turtle. In response to the threat of these invasive bullfrogs, the Province has begun work on a mapping tool to help track the spread of bullfrogs across BC. Come find out how you can help!

Richard Tropp

Richard Topp is a Conservation Program Specialist who’s worked with Ducks Unlimited Canada for the past 5 years. Richard leads the Coastal Habitat Asset Management program and the Spartina Eradication Program helping protect and maintain ecological values on conservation lands around the Fraser Delta and across Vancouver Island.

Presentation Summary: Parrot’s Feather is an aquatic freshwater invasive that has been used in aquariums and aquatic gardens. These thick aquatic invasive impacts drainage in controlled and natural wetland environments while reducing overall biodiversity and creating stagnate pools of water. Current best practices involve mechanical removal of Parrot’s Feather, but if small fragments of roots are left behind, it will re-establish quickly. In 2014, Ducks Unlimited Canada attempted a new management technique for Parrot’s Feather in the Serpentine Wildlife Management Area which involved draining a portion of the wetland infested with Parrot’s Feather to dry soil. This management technique can be a cost-effective way to manage Parrot’s Feather in areas where water levels can be artificially manipulated.

Christal Apar

Christal Apar is a Multi-Program Specialist Inspector with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). She started working for the CFIA in 2022 after completing the Forest and Natural Areas Management Program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) with a focus on silviculture and forest protection. Since joining the CFIA, she has been part of the Japanese beetle and emerald ash borer responses in BC, the CFIA’s harbour inspection sub-division, and the avian influenza emergency response team.The passion for entomology was not something she expected going into this industry, but now she never passes up an opportunity to look at a creepy crawly.

Presentation Summary: In March 2024, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB-Agrilus planipennis) in trees located in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia.Emerald ash borer is a highly destructive insect that attacks and kills ash trees (Fraxinussp.). It is a federally regulated pest in Canada.EAB is currently found in parts of six provinces and is spreading to new areas via the movement of firewood and ash material (such as logs, branches and wood chips). This presentation will focus on the measures put into place by the CFIA to protect BC’s landscape and economy to prevent the spread of EAB to non-infested areas of Canada.

Agenda to come soon!