TACKLING IRELAND’S INVASIVES
In the last issue of Horticulture Connected we included an expert opinion piece entitled Control Issues, which explored perspectives invasive species in Ireland. Since publication, the Environmental Protection Agency has unveiled plans for an all Ireland research project into invasives. To gain insight into the project we asked one of the coordinators, Dr Joe Caffrey, to explain what’s going to happen and how it might positively impact existing issues
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lobally, Invasive Alien Species (IAS), (henceforth invasive species) are considered to be one of the major threats to native biodiversity and the environment, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) citing their impacts as ‘immense, insidious, and usually irreversible’. Invasive species threaten the ecological stability of invaded habitats and native species/communities, while also threatening essential ecosystem functions and services. The societal costs are measured in millions of euros and threats to human, animal and plant health. In Ireland (and indeed throughout Europe), the approach to invasive species has been fragmented and uncoordinated, as became clear from invited delegates at a major international invasive species conference (FINS: Freshwater Invasives –
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Networking for Strategy) that was held in Galway in 2013. As a consequence of this lack of coherent action, the rate of invasive species introductions and spread has increased significantly in recent decades. This has resulted in significant adverse impacts on native biodiversity, natural capital, ecosystem services, our local and national economies, and human health in many affected areas, with predictions of increasing problems with climate change. As an island on the western edge of Europe, Ireland is fortunate to possess a relative paucity of non-native species that can be deemed to be truly invasive. However, those introduced species that are established and invasive (i.e. causing problems) clearly pose considerable difficulties for our unique ecosystems and the Irish economy. A number
HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / Spring 2016
PHOTO BY: JJ HARRISON
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