"Report - a - Weed BC"
App Fights Invasive Species
VICTORIA
– Anyone with a smartphone can now help stop the spread of invasive plants in
B.C., thanks to an innovative application developed by Hipwood Digital, the
Invasive Species Council of British Columbia and the Ministry of Forests, Lands
and Natural Resource Operations.
The
“Report-a-Weed BC” app is free to download and is available for both iPhones
and Android phones.
The easy-to-use interface allows users to submit reports on invasive plant
sightings anywhere in B.C., upload photos of plants they find, and view
previously logged sightings on a Google map.
Invasive
plants are
plants that are not native to a particular ecosystem. They have the potential
to displace long-established native species and cause significant economic or
environmental damage. They also may reduce biodiversity, increase soil erosion, alter soil
chemistry and adversely affect commercial crops.
The
Report-a-Weed BC app allows users to:
- Browse through a list of invasive plants (searchable by the plant’s common name, Latin name or flower colour) or scroll through a photo library of known invasive plants.
- Attach their own photos of suspected invasive plants or attach a photo of one of 202 listed species.
- View an interactive map of B.C. that displays details about the 500 most recent submissions.
- Use the app online or offline (in areas with no cell phone coverage, users can click “Submit” as usual and the report will be sent as soon as cell coverage resumes).
Invasive
plant specialists from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource
Operations will review all reports submitted through the smartphone app and
co-ordinate any necessary follow-up activity with regional weed committees,
local governments and landowners.
Regional
weed committees, the Invasive Species Council of B.C., governments and
stakeholders work together to raise public awareness of invasive plants, survey
existing populations and treat high-priority sites to control their spread.
The
involvement of smartphone users will assist landowners and invasive plant
managers with early detection and rapid response efforts, and enhance their
knowledge of how invasive plant species are distributed in B.C.
Download the iPhone version using this Nanaimo Info LINK.
Download the Android version using this Nanaimo Info LINK.
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