News for: Invasive Species

Focus on invasive species

Friday, December 13, 2019

A committee of backbench MPs has called for a “citizens’ army” to tackle the growing threat from invasive species. Under the plan, proposed by the Commons’ Environmental Audit Committee, trained volunteers would help identify and respond to biosecurity outbreaks, modelled on a system developed in New Zealand.

Rust fungus to tackle ‘out of control’ UK invasive

Thursday, August 29, 2019

A specialist natural enemy of Himalayan balsam is being introduced as part of a trial to kill off the invasive plant that has spread throughout south Wales.

Invasive species cost the UK economy £1.8bn every year, according to government figures. Experts believe the UK is home to around 2,000 non-native species, with about 10-15% of these deemed invasive – a plant or animal that does not have a natural predator to keep its numbers in check.

Pilot scheme launched to tackle invasive species

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

A pilot project aimed at removing floating pennywort from a section of the River Colne Valley, could go some way to helping water companies reduce the significant costs associated with tackling invasive non-native species, according to the Environment Agency (EA).

Part of a joint venture between the agency and charity Groundwork South, the plan has been designed to unite local groups and organisations to “restore and enhance” the mid to lower reaches of the River Colne Valley, which crosses parts of greater London and Buckinghamshire.

Threatened crayfish rescued from claws of invasive species

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

A threatened species of crayfish is making a comeback in Lincolnshire after the Environment Agency (EA) and conservation groups relocated them away from their invasive non-native predators.

Native white-clawed crayfish – the country’s largest freshwater crustaceans – have been in decline since non-native American signal crayfish escaped into UK waters in the 1970s. The larger, invasive crayfish outcompete native species for food and habitat and carry a disease fatal to the UK species.

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