Plant Diversity Challenge - Plantlife

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Objective 2: Conserving Plant DiversityTarget 10:Controlling non-native invasivespeciesCentre for Aquatic Plant ManagementOngoing actions contributing tomeeting the target• Responding to the Defra Review of NonnativeSpecies Policy• Conducting a similar review for NorthernIreland as part of an All-Ireland ReviewHigh priority additional work• Identifying priority actions, in light of theGovernment reviews• Preparing management plans for identifiedprioritiesManagement plans in place for at least 100 major alienspecies that threaten plants, plant communities andassociated habitats and ecosystems.ScopeThe damage caused by invasive non-native species is recognised as a major threat tobiological diversity. Invasive plants can hybridise with close relatives, causecompetition for nutrients, light and space and can alter plant populations andcommunities in marine, terrestrial and freshwater situations.Target 10 acknowledgesthe threats to plant diversity from invasive species and seeks to identify thenecessary action to minimise this damage. It suggests that priorities should be set ata national level but action should be co-ordinated internationally.The challenge is toidentify those species that pose significant threats, to determine the nature of theresponse and then to co-ordinate action to alleviate the problems caused.Management plans should specify the mechanisms necessary to prevent, eradicate orcontrol problem species so that our biotopes and native flora can be conservedsuccessfully.Current situationMost non-native species pose no threat to native plants, and indeed many naturalisednon-natives represent interesting additions to our flora.The ‘tens rule’ for Britishinvaders states that for every 100 imported plants, only 10% become casuals, and ofthese casuals only 10% become established and of these only 10% actually go on andbecome pests i.e. 0.1% of non-native species might pose ecological problems.Although this crude assessment does not take into account different life strategiesand the varied vulnerability of habitats to invasion, it is a satisfactory rule of thumbthat begins to give some perspective to the scale of the problem. It is therefore aminority of species that cause serious problems but predicting which species willbecome invasive is both difficult and the priority.The challenges that this target presents will be considered as part of theGovernment response to the Defra Review of Non-native Species Policy and as part ofa similar review in all-Ireland.The GB review was initiated following a commitmentmade in the Rural White Paper for England Our Countryside: the Future - a Fair Deal forRural England.This review, led by Defra has considered the Convention on BiologicalDiversity’s 15 guiding principles for taking action against damaging non-native species.The review group has submitted its report to Ministers and consultation on theMinisters’ response is underway. Recommendations focus on the need to improveprevention, monitoring and risk assessment, and remedy and control.32
Non-native invasive species pose a majorthreat to our wild plants. Efforts to controlthese species such as parrot’s-featherMyriophyllum aquaticum shown here, includemanual clearance and spraying withherbicide.PLANTLIFEBOB GIBBONS/NATURAL IMAGE33
Page 1: Plant DiversityChallengeThe UK’s
Page 4 and 5: Plant Diversity ChallengeAcknowledg
Page 6 and 7: Plant Diversity ChallengeMessage of
Page 8 and 9: Plant Diversity ChallengeExecutive
Page 10 and 11: Plant Diversity ChallengeThe import
Page 12 and 13: Plant Diversity Challenge• High p
Page 14 and 15: Objective 1: Understanding and Docu
Page 20 and 21: Objective 2: Conserving Plant Diver
Page 34 and 35: Objective 3: Using Plant Diversity
Page 40 and 41: Objective 4: Promoting Education an
Page 42 and 43: Objective 5: Building Capacity for
Page 44 and 45: Objective 5: Building Capacity for
Page 46 and 47: Plant Diversity ChallengeKey Refere
Page 48 and 49: Plant Diversity ChallengeAcronyms &
Page 50 and 51: Plant Diversity ChallengeAppendix 1
Page 52 and 53: Plant Diversity ChallengeSTEVE DAY/
Page 54: PLANT DIVERSITY CHALLENGE: UK’S R

Plant Diversity Challenge - Plantlife

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?