Landowners and residents in the Regional District of Central Kootenay are being asked to help tackle invasive Scotch broom – and get paid for their efforts.
The Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) has expanded its BroomBasher program to include the Crowdsorsa app, giving residents and visitors new ways to take action against invasive Scotch broom while earning money.
Laurie Frankcom, CKISS engagement coordinator, described Scotch broom as one of British Columbia’s most aggressive invasive plants.
“It doesn’t have any predators to keep it under control, so it becomes extremely aggressive. As a result, it can out-compete native vegetation, degrade wildlife habitat and it creates a lot of fuel for wildfires, so having it around is just not a safe thing,” she said.
Through the Crowdsorsa app, the public can earn cash for removing the plant along Johnstone Road. Participants cut broom plants at ground level and upload photo proof of their work.
Payments are sent directly through the app.
While removing the plant is critical to environmental health, the Crowdsorsa app will also pay for reported sightings across Electoral Areas A, D, E, F and H.
To submit a sighting, residents must take a short video of the plant and upload it to the app.
Frankcom said identifying infestations is a critical step in controlling Scotch broom.
“In order to create a really good management plan and go and tackle the plant, we need to actually know where it is. So that’s why we are turning to the public and asking for them to download the app and get some more reports our way,” she said.
Landowners are also eligible for direct financial assistance to remove Scotch broom from their property.
They can either register their property in the app by emailing CKISS and remove the plant themselves for payment, or they can recruit someone they know to carry out the removal and receive compensation.
Emails can be sent to info@ckiss.ca with contact details and a property address to set up a Private Land Mission.
The program runs until Oct. 31, or until funds run out. The Crowdsorsa app is available on both Google Play or the Apple App Store.
For more information, visit CKISS online.
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