Conservation
Invaders
targeted
The Trust welcomes a recent decision by the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to
review the list of identified 'invasive' non-native wildlife
species within the UK, currently outlined under Schedule 9 of the
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA).
Section 14 of the WCA currently prohibits
the sale and/or the release into the 'wild' of any animal or plant
which are listed as an invasive non-native species. This list
however has become somewhat outdated and does not include species
which are fast becoming a major threat to our native biodiversity.
The revised list will subsequently mean that species such as
Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), Rhododendron
(Rhododendron Spp.) and Parrots Feather (Myriophyllum
aquaticum), which are all adversely affecting natural habitats
throughout the county, will be subject to tighter control measures
to prevent their continuing spread and establishment. These species
will join already listed invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed
(Fallopia japonica) and the infamous American
Mink (Mustela vison), which has been attributed to the
rapid decline in Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris)
throughout the UK.
This latest revision, to the principle UK
legislative mechanism for control of invasive species, comes in
response to the 2008 publication of the Invasive Non-native
Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain. The document
highlights the need for a more proactive approach to address the
second biggest threat to biodiversity (habitat loss is believed to
be the primary threat) and thus prevent the huge costs associated
with invasive species eradication and control; estimated to be
around £2 billon annually.
Changes to the list of Schedule 9 species
are predicted to come into force in April 2010, however further
amendments will be made in October 2010 listing additional species
that are also to be banned from sale.
Further information on the amended Wildlife
and Countryside Act 1981 and the revised list of invasive
non-native species will be available here soon.