The Ontario government says it is investing $2 million to support community efforts aimed at preventing the spread of invasive species and protecting the province’s natural environment.
The funding will support 112 projects involving municipalities, Indigenous communities, conservation authorities and local organizations, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. The province said the investment is expected to create more than 160 local jobs and engage more than 3,000 volunteers in invasive species management and prevention initiatives.
“From early invasive species detection to on-the-ground management, this investment is helping communities across the province protect the natural spaces we all rely on and enjoy,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, parliamentary assistant to the minister of natural resources. “Our government is proud to support projects like these that bring people together to safeguard Ontario’s biodiversity for generations to come.”
The announcement forms part of the province’s previously announced $16-million commitment over three years to address the spread of invasive species. Since 2024, the government said the funding has supported 213 invasive species management projects, created 254 jobs and engaged 6,749 volunteers.
Projects funded through the initiative include responses to water soldier infestations on Lake Simcoe and efforts to control invasive plants such as common buckthorn and knotweed in surrounding areas.
“The best way to protect Ontario from invasive species is by preventing them from spreading,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “That’s why our government continues to invest and give communities the tools they need to keep our waterways and forests safe for families across Ontario to enjoy.”
According to the province, invasive species are a leading cause of biodiversity loss in Ontario and have an estimated economic impact of $3.6 billion annually across sectors including agriculture, fisheries, forestry, health care, tourism and outdoor recreation.
The Invasive Species Action Fund, administered by the Invasive Species Centre, supports prevention, detection and response efforts through a coordinated, provincewide approach.
Ontario currently lists 42 species, four groups, one family and two carriers under the Invasive Species Act. The province says Ontario has the highest number of invasive species in Canada, and once established, many are difficult and costly to control or remove.
