City of Toronto – Fact sheet on hazardous or poisonous vegetation control
When, where and as required, Parks Forestry & Recreation conducts operations for the control of hazardous vegetation found growing in parkland areas, Hazardous vegetation includes plants such as Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), Cow Parsnip (Heracleum sphondylium) and Poison Ivy (Rhus radicans) and involves a deemed public health and safety issue.
A Fact Sheet will be made available to interested members of the public during procedures undertaken by Parks, Forestry and Recreation to control hazardous vegetation in parkland areas.
Hazardous Vegetation Control – Public Fact Sheet
The City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry and Recreation is presently active in this area for the control of Hazardous Vegetation which has been deemed a potential risk to public health and safety.
Hazardous Vegetation refers to plants that are poisonous to the touch and which can cause personal injury. Such plants include Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), Cow Parsnip (Heracleum sphondylium) and Poison Ivy (Rhus radicans).
In the interests of public health and safety, the City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry and Recreation undertakes the control of Hazardous Vegetation using several methods or combination of methods. Whenever possible and where circumstances permit, Hazardous Vegetation is removed manually without the use of herbicides by trained personnel outfitted with the proper Personal Protection Equipment. The application of herbicides to control Hazardous Vegetation is considered and used only on a last resort basis. The Provincial Pesticides Act and associated Ontario Regulations 63/09 provides for the use of Class 10 herbicides for land exterminations of Hazardous Vegetation under the health or safety exception contained in the legislation.
In the event that herbicides are required on a last resort basis:
- The area will be posted with warning signage in accordance with Provincial pesticide regulations.
- Herbicides are applied by trained and licensed personnel in accordance with Provincial pesticide regulations.
- Whenever possible and where circumstances permit, localized spot spraying is the practice used to apply herbicides. This reduces the amount of herbicide required as well as minimizes the potential damage to any intermixed and surrounding desirable, non-targeted vegetation.
The City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry and Recreation will endeavor to cordon off areas and post warning signage where the control of Hazardous Vegetation is taking place.
While enjoying the park and during this time of Hazardous Vegetation control, please ensure that you, your family and your pets do not go off maintained trails, pathways and parkland and especially into any cordoned off areas.
The City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry and Recreation encourages park users to stay on maintained trails, pathways and parkland at other times of the year and to be aware of any warning signs that may be posted regarding Hazardous Vegetation.
