Two projects in northwestern Ontario are getting funding to target invasive species.

Sarah Rang is the executive director of the Invasive Species Center and says the one of the projects in the Thunder Bay area.

“The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority is working on mapping an invasive species, which is a type of cattail,” states Rang.

Grand Council Treaty #3 is also working on a zebra mussel early detection and prevention project and doing purple loosestrife mapping and monitoring.

She says these two projects are just two of 61 that have received funding in Ontario.

“We know that from some of the work that we’ve been doing here at the Invasive Species Center, that they cost Ontario $3.6 billion annually.”

The funding is provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

The Invasive Species Center says the projects will engage almost 8,000 people at 104 events, including over 1,800 youth in Ontario in 2023.

(Photo supplied)