Eliminating and/or prohibiting the growth and resale of invasive plant species in nurseries, as well as at non-commercial plants sales and “swaps”, is a necessary future step to reducing the establishment of new invasive plant species in London. Educating homeowners about the risk of impacting environmental health with the introduction of invasive species in private gardens, and promoting native species is also important. The City of London’s existing “Growing Naturally” program is an example of how the City is currently educating homeowners about ways to conserve water, and plant native species at home.
Other municipalities, conservation authorities, Aboriginal communities, and many private and non-government organizations are also active in the management of invasive plant species. Building an effective communication network with these external stakeholders will be imperative to invasive plant species prevention.
The London Environmental Network (LEN) is currently a not-for-profit organization in London that hosts a variety of workshops and develops resources for local businesses and community partners looking to learn how to make more environmentally friendly decisions. Utilizing local partners like LEN and their existing networks can be beneficial to the City’s goal to educate the public about responsible invasive species management practices and reach a larger audience.