Invasive Species Ninjas!

This past Sunday, September 21, 2014, SYLVIS staff (AKA SYLVites) gathered on the bank of the Fraser River in the New Westminster community of Queensborough armed with shovels, pruning shears, and can-do spirit!

The annual event, organized and hosted by the New Westminster Environmental Partners (NWEP), brings together individuals, families, community groups and business volunteers to clean-up the shoreline, remove invasive species and plant native plants.  

The SYLVIS Ninjas, having experience in invasive species removal and tree planting, took to the task like fish to water – an appropriate analogy as the event was the kick-off to a week of activities in New Westminster leading up to BC River’s Day, Sunday September 28.

Our team of SYLVites (which consisted of professional foresters, biologists and agrologists, an internationally certified arbourist and a very experienced tree planter):

• removed masses of invasive blackberry and bamboo from the shoreline;
• planted native species including 3 large (2 m tall) Western Red Cedar trees which we donated to the event; and,
• entertained volunteers with trivia – for example, did you know that Western Red Cedar, or Thuja plicata for those of you that prefer Latin names, is the provincial tree of British Columbia?

Participation in events like this is one of the ways that SYLVIS lives our corporate values of demonstrating environmental stewardship and social responsibility.  SYLVIS’s Green Team is responsible for identifying activities for our participation and support which benefit the communities where we live and work.

With our head office located in New Westminster, this an ideal event for us to contribute and collaborate in achieving environmental objectives. We applaud the community spirit and enthusiastic attitude of NWEP and all the volunteers that made this event a success!