content@managingwater.co.uk Climate & the Environment Wildlife benefits as invasive plants are banned
The sale of five invasive non-native aquatic plant species is to be banned from 2014 in order to protect wildlife.
Water Fern
Native of North America, it produces a dense cover, killing off submerged weeds and algae. It can also be drawn into water intakes, blocking pumps and filters.
In the past the plants have been sold and planted in garden ponds, but have escaped into the wild taking over from native species and damaging some of our most sensitive habitats.
The plants form dense mats in water, depleting oxygen and light availability, causing declines in the numbers of fish and other aquatic species. They also reduce access to waterways for boating and angling and increase flood risk which, taken together, can cost millions of pounds per year.
The move has been welcomed by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust which has long-advocated the need to stop selling harmful species in order to protect our native environment.
Parrot’s Feather
First found in Britain in 1960 Mostly in ponds, but has also been found in reservoirs, gravel pits, streams, canals and ditches.
Carrie Hume, Head of Conservation Policy at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust said:
Floating Pennywort
It was first brought to Britain in the 1980’s by the aquatic nursery trade.
It quickly covers the water surface interfering with the ecology and amenity uses of the water body.
“Headlines about ash dieback were just the tip of the iceberg. The truth is that British nature is under relentless attack from a whole host of invasive plants and pathogens that are freely imported and cultivated for sale” “Thankfully, some of the most destructive non- native plants will no longer be on sale in our garden centres. This is the right move. The environmental and economic cost of dealing with this problem is already huge and dealing with it now is a great saving for the future.”
The Economic Cost
Invasive non-native species are not only devastating to wildlife but also to our economy, costing £1.7 billion to control.
Just one plant, Floating pennywort, costs the British economy over £25 million per year.
Swamp Stone-crop
Introduced to Britain in 1911 from Tasmania.
The dense mat out-competes all other aquatic vegetation, eliminates native flora and creates a poorer ecosystem for invertebrates and fish
Full details of the economic cost can be a found a report carried out by CABI in 2010 and sponsored by Defra, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government.
Click to view
Water Primrose
Introduced as an ornamental and water garden plan but has severe negative impacts, including out-competing native species and clogging waterways with long runners (up to 16 feet)
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