In considering the heroes and villains among 91原创 Island鈥檚 early European settlers, Capt. Walter Colquhon Grant would definitely fall in the latter category. It was he who gets the credit for introducing Scotch broom to the Island.
Grant apparently saw the yellow-flowering shrub growing in Hawaii in 1850 and thought it would do well on his farm in Sooke.
This prolific and hardy plant has become a serious problem on the West Coast, as well as in many parts of North America. Way to go, Walter.
Scotch broom is reason enough for B.C. to implement an Invasive Species Act, a measure the provincial government is considering, but there are many other imported plants and animals that cause economic harm and environmental damage in the province.
It鈥檚 unfair to put all the blame on Grant. Broom, native to Europe and North Africa, was introduced to North America at various times and places. It would have inevitably found its way here.
Grant was no different from the many migrants who could not resist the impulse to bring a little bit of home with them when they moved. And travellers over the centuries have always had the urge to bring home living souvenirs of their travels.
The results are not always negative. Greater Victoria鈥檚 native beauty has been enhanced by the many trees that line its streets, the profusion of flowering shrubs that adorn its parks and yards, and by countless other beautiful plants that thrive in this congenial climate. And let鈥檚 face it, most of the food we grow here is not native to the region.
Many species brought to B.C. from other parts of the world would not survive here without human care. And not every species that finds our climate to its liking becomes an environmental problem. Pheasants, chukar partridge and California quail were introduced for hunting and can still be found in many places in the province. They don鈥檛 appear to pose any threat to local species or habitats.
On the other hand, starlings and house sparrows, introduced to North America by well-intended but misguided romantics in the 19th century, have pushed out many native birds and have caused tremendous economic harm.
We鈥檙e a little wiser now, but not immune. Each year, B.C. acquires 34,000 new residents from around the world. Some might want to bring with them something familiar from their countries of birth; others might inadvertently bring seeds or spores of undesirable organisms with them. People travel widely these days; there will always be the temptation to bring home a few seeds of a particularly beautiful plant to see how it fares here.
The threat from garden escapees always exists 鈥� plants such as purple loosestrife and giant knotweed were brought here to be used in landscaping and have become serious problems. Giant hogweed not only pushes out other plants, it is dangerous to humans, and can cause severe blistering.
Canada has federal regulations governing the importing of plants, and B.C.鈥檚 regulations do not ignore the problem of invasive species. The Thistle Control Act of 1871 and the Noxious Weeds Act of 1888 were implemented in response to farmers鈥� concerns. (The Canada thistle, by the way, is also an invader, having come to the continent from Europe in the 1600s.) Those concerns are now covered by the Weed Control Act, while the Plant Protection Act aims to prevent the introduction of dangerous plants and diseases.
An Invasive Species Act could bring these and other issues under one umbrella, not just to manage preventive measures, but also to mandate control measures.
Many invaders pose a very real threat to the native habitats and the economy; a united front is needed.
