8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

The LIPMS sets out a detailed vision for controlling multiple invasive species across the entire City. The following recommendations are needed to implement the strategy. Each recommendation will require specific funding to fully and effectively implement. Staff will, upon acceptance of this report, prepare detailed funding and implementation timelines for Council approval.

1) Develop a Phragmites control program according the Strategic

Process (Section 5.0) outlined in the LIPMS. This is the City’s highest priority species, as it poses the biggest threat to the ecological integrity and long term health of the City’s Natural Heritage System, and creates potential health and safety concerns. As such, this program is already being developed in conjunction with other City departments outside of Planning Services to make it a city-wide control program. This program will include reaching out to City of London neighbours and provincial partners with the intent of creating a larger regional approach to controlling this species as quickly as possible.

2) Further expand what the City is already implementing in our ESAs. The UTRCA’s ESA team funded by the City has been paramount in the City’s invasive plant control activities for many years. Further expanding their capability to implement additional control measures following the Strategic Process (Section 5.0) on a regular basis throughout the ESAs will provide a significant net benefit to the City’s ESAs over the long-term.

3) Further expand the City’s Woodland Management Program to address invasive species City-wide.