Waging war against invading grasses in Niagara

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If you’re travelling near the Niagara Parkway this week, don’t be alarmed if you see plumes of smoke billowing into the air. It’s simply the Niagara Parks Commission waging war against grasses and trees that have invaded their property.

The European buckthorn is what the Niagara Parks Commission wants to destroy. “The European buckthorn is one of the major threats we have in the Niagara Parks commission as an invasive species” says Forestry Manager Dino McDonnell “if we allowed this to spread, it would completely fill the understory, and nothing else will
grow underneath it.”

The main weapon in this fight – slow moving flames. Seven other sites, fifty hectares will be charred, giving young native grasses and trees a chance to grow beside the 200 year old oaks.