Invasive Species Council of British Columbia

Webinar: Social and Ethical Considerations of Community Weed Control

Date: March 24, 2022

Time: 9:30am-10:30am PT

Spotted knapweed, Rob Routledge, Bugwood.org

Industrial vegetation control involves working within communities which may well have differing perspectives of the desirability of different forms of controls.

Concerns around herbicide applications focus upon human and ecosystem health, although within Indigenous communities these concerns also involve cultural survival and integrity. While not all control measures involve herbicide applications, alternate control measures can be expensive and time-consuming for companies and agencies concerned about the bottom line. However, professionals overseeing weed control activities have obligations to the publics whose communities might be affected and those with professional designations actually have Codes of Conduct mandating their obligation to the public good. How can these needs be addressed?

In this webinar, practitioners will work to identify their own values and perceptions of the public before considering the social and ethical challenges underpinning responses to invasive vegetation control activities within Indigenous Nations and within other publics. Ideas for engaging with communities effectively will be discussed, with opportunities for workshop participants to develop their own approaches and strategies for working in communities.

About the presenter: Annie Booth has a PhD in environmental ethics and a Masters in environmental policy and is a Registered Professional Planner in BC. She has taught for 29 years at the University of Northern British Columbia, working with students in forestry, planning, fish and wildlife, among others, to understand ethics, engaging with the public effectively and meaningfully and to understand their social obligations as the next generation of natural resources professionals.

This webinar is approved in British Columbia for 1.5 Continuing Education Credits (CEC)and in Alberta for one Continuing Education Credit (CEC) towards pesticide applicator certification. To qualify for the credit, participate in the webinar including the quiz at the end. Please contact the Integrated Vegetation Management Association of British Columbia (IVMA of BC) with any questions you may have.

This webinar is co-hosted by:


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