The Canada-Ontario Invasive Species Centre at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre (GLFC) in Sault Ste. Marie officially opened July 31.
The new centre is dedicated to combating alien invasive species that threaten Canada’s natural resources and ecosystems. Aquatic invasive species are also recognized as a serious problem threatening the biodiversity of our lakes and rivers, and the new centre will play a co-ordinating role in addressing their spread. In the Great Lakes Basin alone, nearly 200 species from around the world have been introduced and include many well-known invaders such as sea lamprey, zebra mussel, round goby and purple loosestrife.
“Canada’s Economic Action Plan has delivered significant investments to support the transformation of Canada’s forest sector,” Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said in a news release. “I am proud to be here to mark the completion of this state-of-the-art Canadian research facility that will contribute to the conservation of this important natural resource, and has created and protected good jobs for Canadians.”
Funding for the project comprised of $9.8 million from the federal government for the new Insect Production and Quarantine Laboratories and $4.4 million to modernize the GLFC facilities. The insect lab is providing scientists with facilities to research and combat alien and domestic forest insect pests that threaten Canada’s natural resources and ecosystems.
The Ontario government pitched in $15 million toward the invasive species research initiative, including $1.6 million towards the facility, $800,000 for an invasive species research chair at Algoma University, $4.9 million to support a variety of innovative projects and ongoing support for the annual operating costs of the Canada-Ontario Invasive Species Centre which is housed in this facility.
The Great Lakes Forestry Centre is one of six Canadian Forest Service centres in Canada. NRCan’s scientists working at the GLFC have focused mainly on three alien invasive insects affecting Ontario’s forests: the emerald ash borer, the Asian longhorned beetle and the Sirex wood wasp. Research is being conducted on the lifecycle of these forest pests to develop detection and control techniques.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources' scientists will collaborate with NRCan researchers on these initiatives and provincial staff will use the knowledge generated from this research to monitor areas where these insects may appear and to provide information to foresters and communities on control and mitigation measures. As well, NRCan will work closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to provide information to support the CFIA’s regulatory responsibilities for addressing alien invasive species.
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