Canada Target 11. By 2020, pathways of invasive alien species introductions are identified, ​​and risk-based intervention or management plans are in place for priority pathways and species.

About the Target

The IPPBES states that invasive alien species are one of the main direct drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide.[i] IAS are species of plants, animals, and micro-organisms introduced to environments outside of their habitat of origin and once established threaten native species, the economy and/or society.  Some of the best-known examples in Canada include purple loosestrife, Dutch elm disease, sea lamprey, green crab, zebra mussel, and emerald ash borer.

Invasive species are often introduced through imported goods, as stowaways on or in ships and other imported commodities or move beyond their native range and habitat only to become established in a completely new location. Because they often have no natural predators in their new environments or endemic species do not have immunity, populations of invasive species can grow unchecked and cause significant damage to the habitats and food sources of native species, as well as negatively impacting regional economies, recreational activities, and local communities.

Hundreds of invasive species occur in Canada. For example, between 1600 and 2005, 486 invasive alien plants were estimated to have been introduced to Canada.[ii] Further, an additional 615 alien plant species have been identified in the U.S. states bordering Canada or the Great Lakes that pose a potential risk of invasion. There are also numerous invasive insects, birds, mammals, and marine or freshwater aquatic species of fish, invertebrates or plants that have become established or pose a risk of introduction in Canada. As such, there is an urgent need to improve our understanding of these species and their movements, and to avoid their introduction and spread.

Canada Target 11 is linked with the following global Aichi target under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020:

  • Aichi Target 9 - By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment.

[i] IPBES (2018). Invasive Alien Species: Thematic assessment of invasive alien species and their control.

[ii] Canadian Food Inspection Agency (2008) Invasive Alien Plants in Canada.

2020 Final Assessment

The indicator used for the Summary of Canada’s 6th National Report in 2019 has not been updated since 2015 and has not changed. Indeed, no new invasive alien species were found to have become established in Canada from 2012 to 2015. Information on interventions or management plans in place has not been updated since 2018 but results from surveys conducted then showed an important increasing trend.

The target can be said to have been met as pathways of introductions have been identified and measures are in place for priority pathways and species. However, there are still significant entry pathways not adequately addressed, both in terms of risk assessment and management. With ever increasing globalization, new pathways of introduction may emerge from time-to-time. In addition to pathways, the tenacity of many newly introduced and established alien invasive species makes it a challenge to implement effective management plans across the country. For these reasons, invasive alien species remain a serious threat.

Continued and strengthened collaboration on programs on controlling established alien invasive species, monitoring and research is needed following the 2018 recommendations of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Invasive Alien Species Task Force to the Conservation, Wildlife and Biodiversity Ministers.[i]

[i] Federal-Provincial-Territorial Invasive Alien Species Task Force (2017) Recommendations to Improve Invasive Alien Species Prevention and Management in Canada.

Contributing Actions

All levels of government and many organizations across Canada continue work on specific invasive species control actions as well as identifying high priority pathways of invasive species introduction into Canada. For example, since 2018, Ontario activities under the province’s Invasive Species Act included: consulting with partners on considering new species for regulation; and posting Prevention and Response Plans for Water Soldier and European Water Chestnut. 

Education and outreach efforts have increased to help reduce the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. Provincial and Territorial governments, along with the Invasive Species Centre, the Canadian Council on Invasive Species, and other provincial and territorial non-governmental organizations are active in developing tools and resources for prevention and management, supporting research, and promoting collaboration and education and outreach programs. For example in 2019, the National Aquatic Invasive Species Committee identified the need to standardize Don’t Let it Loose (DLIL) material across Canada. They have developed a nationally recognizable message that aligns with federal, provincial, and territorial regulations. 

Municipalities across the country have made efforts to address invasive alien species.  For example, in 2017 the City of London passed the London Invasive Plant Management Strategy , and other Ontario municipalities, like Mississauga in 2021, have followed suit.

In 2020, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, working with the Canadian Forest Service and local partners, was able to declare that the Asian longhorned beetle has been eradicated from the cities of Mississauga and Toronto in the province of Ontario.

The Invasive Species Centre developed a Municipal Community of Practice to encourage sharing of knowledge among municipalities on invasive species.

The Canadian Council on Invasive Species coordinates with partners and provides a central reporting tools portal for citizens and naturalists to take action on invasive species by building invasive species distribution data across Canada. Reporting invasive species locations can help researchers and land managers detect new populations, prevent future outbreaks, and manage invasive species before they become widely established. Reporting tools included in the portal are the iNaturalist project I Spy and Identify, the web-based Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) and iMapInvasives. The site also includes links to provincial and territorial resources, federally regulated invasive species, and dedicated programs for specific high-risk invasive species such as wild pigs.