January 20, 2027 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CST
Invasive species pose significant threats to wetland ecosystems by reducing biodiversity, altering habitat conditions, and limiting the ability of native species to thrive. This presentation explores how the South Coast Conservation Land Management Program, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Nature Trust of British Columbia are utilizing benthic barriers to suppress yellow flag iris and Himalayan blackberry in wetlands across British Columbia’s South Coast region. By combining low-impact invasive species management with native species planting and willow staking, we have been improving habitat quality, enhancing biodiversity, and strengthen wetland resilience in a highly urbanized region.
Alison Martin, Program Coordinator, South Coast Conservation Land Management Program
Alison is the Program Coordinator for the South Coast Conservation Land Management Program (SCCLMP), based out of Surrey, BC. She has been with the program for the last five years and leads the management of over 37,000 hectares of provincially designated conservation lands throughout BC’s South Coast region. Her work includes supporting restoration efforts, invasive species management, and field operations across the diverse ecosystems that make up the Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley regions. As well, a key aspect of her role is to support collaboration and relationship building between program partners, local First Nations, volunteers and other organizations working with the conservation lands.