Awarded to the East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council and the Regional District of East Kootenay to increase awareness of invasive plants amongst private landowners; to prevent the establishment of new invasive plant species, control existing noxious and priority species and; where possible, eradicate noxious and priority invasive plants on private lands in the Columbia Valley using an integrated approach.
PROPONENT: East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council (now the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council) and Regional District of East Kootenay
DESCRIPTION: The Neighbourhood Invasive Plant Program (NIPP) was a multi-year project that aimed to provide resources for private landowners to manage invasive plants on their properties in the Columbia Valley. This program was administered under the umbrella of the RDEK and began as the Columbia Valley Invasive Plants Neighbourhood Program. The project was funded by the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund, and was administered by the Windermere District Farmers Institute for two years before becoming a joint project between the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council (EKISC) and the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK).
OBJECTIVE: The intent of the NIPP was to increase awareness of invasive plants amongst private landowners and to support increased control efforts on private lands in the East Kootenay. The NIPP was modelled after programs implemented in other jurisdictions and sought to provide guidance, resources and financial support necessary to manage invasive plants on private lands through four unique program streams: 1) free sprayer loan out; 2) new invader rebate; 3) cost sharing rebate; and, 4) herbicide rebate. The project included increasing landowner awareness of invasive plants and supporting these landowners to address invasive plants through resources, equipment and financial support.
