Council will consider putting $4,000 toward the mitigation of invasive plants, which cause untold damage to indigenous species and property, according to Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSISC) co-ordinator Kristina Swerhun.
Swerhun requested the grant in aid to help the organization fund its education and public awareness program.
The funding would help train district staff about invasive species, and offer community outreach to local groups.
"The risk of doing nothing is just too high. We don't want the spread of invasives in the Sea to Sky," she said.
Invasive plants such as English Ivy, English Holly, Periwinkle, Japanese Knotweed, Scotch Broom and Purple Loosestrife are not native to the region, but they grow and spread quickly, choking out native plants that feed local wildlife.
"Japanese knotweed - this plant can regenerate with less than a gram of root material," she said.
Invasive plants can alter water flow by having roots systems too shallow to prevent soil erosion and increase the risk of fire hazards by eliminating a wide variety of native plants.
Swerhun informed council that invasive species could also cause a lot of damage to municipal facilities by growing through concrete.
"The experts say the destructive capabilities by invasive species both ecologically and for the economy are equal to only natural disasters."
Swerhun urged gardeners to substitute planting invasive species with local indigenous plants and to dispose of plants, clippings and soil by compost or tossing the garden into the garbage.
Coun. Paul Lalli offered the district's assistance to help the organization increase their lobbying efforts with the provincial government.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said the issue needs more assistance from the provincial government and council unanimously approved her motion to encourage the province to do so.
The grant in aid request will be discussed in the next budget discussion.
