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> >ecology of the area -- less native plant hosts for David, I did some checking around online and didn't find much. I see that Fred and Nick have already weighed in on this. Environment Canada's rather outdated page about provincial partner programs mentions Project U.F.O. at Cape Breton University as "currently the only public outreach initiative in Nova Scotia that is focused solely on IAS." I tried to find out more about it, but hit dead links and old websites, so I don't know if the program is active or even in existence. Maybe someone reading this will know more. I believe that there actually *should* be some part of the provincial Ministry of Environment that would be tasked with recording data, reporting, identifying, etc.. as here are supposed to be in each province. Now, I did find an online publication about invasive species in NS -- oddly, there is a PDF file with photos and headers, but what appears to be gibberish text as though it is a mock-up for something that was in the works at one time -- perhaps someone on here will know more about the publication and whether it was ever completed(?). http://www.ap.smu.ca/~lcampbel/NSInvasiveAlienSpeciesGuide.pdf Unfortunately, what this puts me in mind of, is my very recent enquiries into whether there is some office or even a single living person who takes their responsibility seriously, in some part of the provincial government -- or some other entitiy -- who is diligently reviewing MNR's Harvest Plan Maps to see if there is overlap of habitat for Species at Risk with proposed clear-cuts..... like, doesn't that seem like something one should do some serious back-checking before green-lighting the hacking down large areas of forest? This occurred to me after I began studying bird atlas maps and overlaying them with proposed tracts for clear-cutting. After quite a bit of emailing around, I discovered that it seems that, no, there isn't actually anyone who seems to be specifically tasked with this duty. However, if one were to know for a fact that there was a SAR bird (for argument's sake) with a nest in a place being logged, there is a way to report that to some kind of hot line, and presumably there will be some follow up. However, otherwise, it seems like critical SAR habitat isn't protected and pretty much here for the taking. That said, there are qualified people who can make recommendations about not harming specific tracts of land if it is deemed that is a good idea and they can make a strong enough argument, but it sounds like it's not particularly simple or successful. In any case, while this is a different matter, basically I'm now left with the impression that there may be no one "really" at the wheel regarding either invasive alien species, or protection of habitat for Species At Risk. Coming from Ontario where at least there are some living human entities tasked with such things, and they seem take their jobs relatively seriously, it's a bit of a shocker to discover that there seems to be little in place here in Nova Scotia -- and that we naturalists have probably been sitting here thinking that there is actually some intelligent being overseeing the welfare of flora and fauna. It's been rather like having Toto tug back the curtain to reveal that there's isn't and probably never was a Great Oz here in Nova Scotia. Bev Wigney Round Hill On 5/7/18, David Patriquin <David.Patriquin@dal.ca> wrote: > 'Lot's of discussion about invasive species... but so far I have no report > on the occurrence of dog-strangling vine in NS (other than the one I cited > for the Port George area) which is what I wanted to determine.. how common > is it here? > > > Also, I wondered if there is a group/gov agency which is actively keeping > track of invasives in NS > > > 'Any help on these appreciated > > > ________________________________ > From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on > behalf of Nick Hill <fernhillns@gmail.com> > Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2018 4:37 PM > To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > Subject: Re: Re[2]: [NatureNS] Dog-strangling vine in Nova Scotia > > Calm...i lived in southeast Kentucky > We had kudzu vine that swallowed abandoned houses...crossex roads via phone > lines > Scary but before we call Jesus and Mary we notice it did not enter intact > woodland and was restricted to about 30m from the roaside. > We do have a couple of plants that are 9f concern because they do get into > fairly intact ecosystems. I'd put glossy buckthorn at the top of the list > and then in terms of potential for harm given reports from elsewhere, I'd be > concerned about the spread of garlic mustard. > > Glossy? It's naturalized now and is part of swamps and early forest > succession. It's not the end of the world...its green it's a laxative for > birds and it fits into a red maple alder tudspuck sedge swamp with no > apparent diversity or community function effects. > > Fight clearcutting and our inability to get any marine protected areas for > the eastern shore because we don't want any impingement on rockweed harvest > or oil and gas development. > > Great name! > > On Sat, May 5, 2018, 1:21 PM David, > <dwebster@glinx.com<mailto:dwebster@glinx.com>> wrote: > Hi Dave P., Bev and all. > What an unfortunate name to be saddled with. Just this side of > 'wanted dead or alive'. I wish to add to Bev's comments about the > abundance of 'invasives'. > As a general rule of thumb animals and plants eventually generate > conditions which threaten their well being/survival. And those which > prevail may do so by "invading" fresh territory which is not loaded with > diseases or parasites. > Consequently, if something is threatened the best recovery remedy may > be to move a starter kit of it elsewhere. Before lighting long distance > flame throwers think about this in general terms. What is the better > choice 1) act to preserve a flora and fauna which is free of "invasive" > species or 2) act to enable survival of species which may be endangered > ? > Yt, DW. Kentville > > ------ Original Message ------ > From: "Bev Wigney" <bkwigney@gmail.com<mailto:bkwigney@gmail.com>> > To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> > Sent: 5/5/2018 9:35:44 AM > Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Dog-strangling vine in Nova Scotia > >>Bad news if Dog-strangling vine (DSV) is here as it is quite a scourge >>in eastern Ontario. Everyone struggles to keep it out of their gardens >>and it grows rampant on vacant properties or even in woodlands. I was >>in Ontario all last summer and went for walks in several places around >>Ottawa and found it growing