Emily Posteraro, Invasive Species Centre
Emily Posteraro is a Program Development Coordinator at the Invasive Species Centre (ISC). She holds a Master of Environmental Science degree from the University of Toronto, Scarborough, where she specialized in conservation biology and critical development studies. One of Emily’s main areas of focus at the ISC is raising awareness and encouraging reporting of the invasive spotted lanternfly and its preferred plant host, tree-of-heaven. Through this preventative work, Emily aims to protect Ontario vineyards, orchards and forests from a highly destructive agricultural pest. She also facilitates collaboration on invasive species management between municipalities, and coordinates efforts to address the cumulative impacts of invasive species and climate change.
Examining the Impacts of Invasive Species on Canadian Municipalities
The National Invasive Species Municipal Expenditures Survey, conducted by the Invasive Species Centre and Environment and Climate Change Canada in 2021, aimed to gain a better understanding of the impact of invasive species on municipalities in Canada. Respondents from 231 municipalities gave insight into municipal spending and priorities with regards to invasive species across the country. Based on the survey data, the estimated annual municipal expenditures on invasive species in Canada is $247.9 million. Out of the top five invasive species most frequently listed by respondents as a priority, four of them were invasive plants. Results from this survey examined how expenditures are allocated among different categories of invasive species activity (detection, prevention, control and management, habitat restoration, and research and science), what non-financial costs are incurred to prevent, detect, and manage invasive species, what the priority species are across different taxa, and the top emerging species of concern. In this presentation, these and other key quantitative and qualitative survey results will be shared, with an emphasis on invasive plants and municipal impacts and priorities in Ontario.