Infographic: 2018-2019 Plant Protection Survey Report
What is a Plant Protection Survey?
A scientific process to collect and record data on plant pests – where they are and are not – by trapping insects, sampling soil or plant tissue, observing plants, using laboratory diagnostics, and other procedures.
Plant pests include insects, invasive plants or micro-organisms that can threaten Canada's environment and economy.
The team
CFIA is dedicated to preventing and limiting the spread of plant pests to protect Canada's plant resources.
Our team of survey biologists design new surveys, improve how we monitor for pests and train inspectors.
Inspectors collect data and submit specimens to CFIA plant laboratories across Canada.
Plant laboratory scientists and technicians perform tests on specimens to identify insects, diseases and invasive plants.
Our work
CFIA looks for signs of plant pests and monitors whether they have spread and if so, where and how much.
Each year, we decide which pests to survey based on probability of pest presence in new areas and their potential impact on the environment, economy and trade.
Our annual report provides a summary of survey results and is available to all stakeholders.
We monitored more than 13,000 sites and looked for agricultural and forestry pests in 19 different national surveys.
We worked with provinces, municipalities and other partners on 2 of our surveys. These partners monitored an additional 483 sites.
See the list of activities for each survey.
Why surveys matter
Preventing and limiting the spread of plants pests is important to protect Canada's forests, agriculture, trade, economy and livelihoods of growers and producers.
Plant health surveillance is used to maintain a claim of "pest-free" status for an area. This allows Canadian producers to export their agricultural and forestry products or sell their products in other provinces and territories.
Detecting pests early on and having reliable information about their populations is important for making decisions about how to respond to new plant pests.
What we found: Highlights
British Columbia
- What we found: Japanese beetle was found again in Vancouver, mainly within the regulated area
- Our action: We support partners, through regulation and surveillance, in their effort to eradicate the beetle
- What it means: Plants, wood and other material must not be moved outside the regulated area in order to limit the pest's spread.
Nova Scotia
- What we found: Emerald ash borer (EAB) was found in Bedford
- Our action: We expanded the EAB regulated area to include the county of Halifax
- What it means: Plants, wood and other material must not be moved outside the regulated area in order to limit the pest's spread.
New Brunswick
- What we found: Emerald ash borer (EAB) was found in Edmundston
- Our action: We expanded the EAB regulated area to include the county of Madawaska, excluding the municipality of Grand Falls
- What it means: Plants, wood and other material must not be moved outside the regulated area in order to limit the pest's spread
Quebec
- What we found: Blueberry maggot was detected at a single site in the regional county municipality of Maria-Chapdelaine
- Our action: We intensified our detection and monitoring activities to better assess the situation
- What it means: Restrictions have been implemented for the site in order to limit the pest's spread
All areas
- What we found: No detections of Asian longhorned beetle, oak wilt, oriental fruit moth or apple maggot
- Our action: Pest-free areas are maintained. We'll continue to look out for these pests
- What it means: Good news! Our environment is still safe from these pests. Canadian producers can export agricultural and forestry products or sell their products to other provinces within Canada
How you can help
Moving untreated firewood is a common way for plant pests to spread. We all play a part in helping to prevent and control the spread of invasive species.
What the general public can do
- Buy local, burn local. Don't move firewood
- Buy certified heat-treated (kiln-dried) firewood
- Learn how to identify plant pests and how they spread.
- Spread the word, not the bug
- Report suspected sightings to CFIA and share information about invasive species
What industry can do
- Know and respect the regulated areas for the pests present in your region
- Do not move logs or untreated firewood outside of regulated areas
- If you are in a regulated area or sourcing wood from a regulated area, inform your clients of the risks of moving purchased firewood to another location
Don't Move Firewood – Prevent the Spread of Pests
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada
(Canadian Food Inspection Agency), 2019.
CFIA P1022E-19
Catalogue No.: A101-16E-PDF
ISSN: 2562-721X
Aussi disponible en français
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