The Eurasian/African annual grass Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum) has invaded Native Prairie/Grassland in Southern Alberta and specifically along disturbed tracts of land within the Municipal District of Taber. Downy Brome is designated as a noxious weed by Alberta’s Weed Control Act and Regulations. As per this act, it has to be controlled on land that is owned or operated on. Downy Brome has numerous competitive advantages that allows it to out-compete native prairie plants making it difficult to control once it establishes.
The invasion of Downy Brome and other non-native species are threatening Alberta’s native prairie and the economic, societal and environmental services it provides. The loss of native prairie can negatively impact biodiversity, it could potentially cause species extirpation/extinction, soil degradation, and it could even alter fire cycles. This is also important from a cultural perspective as the prairie landscape is part of the heritage of Aboriginal people and Canadians generally. The prairies have been inhabited for millennia, and all inhabitants have strong emotional ties to the land and its flora and fauna. Alberta’s Native Prairie is an important part of Alberta’s economy as when used for range land for cattle, which adds millions of dollars each year to the provincial economy. Downy Brome can have significant control and management costs and can reduce agriculture productivity.
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