The advance of the Asian hornet creates a buzz in the UK media
Some of the species that are included in our open-access Invasive Species Compendium are well known to the general public, for example Japanese Knotweed. Others are more obscure, and I had never heard of the Asian Hornet, Vespa velutina, until I edited the datasheet about it earlier this year. I was therefore interested to hear…
Use them and lose
Is promoting the utilisation of invasive non-native species for commercial or other uses e.g. as a feed for livestock, use as a fuel or to produce biogas, a help or a hindrance to their control? A view from Arne Witt, CABI Regional Coordinator, Invasives (Africa & Asia): Promoting the utilization of any invasive non-native species…
Getting swamped: Australian swamp stonecrop (Crassula helmsii) in the UK
In January this year, large parts of southern Australia were ablaze with fierce bush fires, while most of the UK was covered in snow. Half a world away from each other, and at one point nearly 40ÂșC apart, there arenât too many similarities to be drawn between the two locations. And yet, there is a…
Invasive species catch a wave
Over two years have now passed since the Tohoku earthquake rent the seafloor 40 miles off the coast of Japan. The 9.03 magnitude quake â the largest in Japanâs history â triggered a staggeringly destructive tsunami which cost the lives of over 15,000 people. Aside from the human tragedy of the disaster, the tsunami has…
Rhododendron ponticum â much more than just an invasive weed!
Rhododendron ponticum, native to southern Europe and south west Asia was introduced into the UK in the 18th Century. Since then, this plant has grown uncontrollably and is now a common sight throughout western parts of the British Isles in areas such as Cornwall, Wales and parts of Scotland and Ireland. Despite producing an attractive…
Asian longhorn beetle â A clear case for early eradication
It was confirmed last month that the first population of the forestry pest, the Asian longhorn beetle (ALB), was found in Kent, UK. Forest Research scientists discovered this damaging native of Japan and China infesting around 20 trees, and are now surveying the area to find out the full extent of the infestation. The establishment…
Lantana – a battle not yet over!
Iâm really pleased to see a more sensible discussion going on about the realities of invasive species management thanks to the article in Invasive plant News which involved one of our regional Coordinators for Invasives Arne Witt from our CABI Africa Centre. The crux of the issue was the naĂŻve use of the word eradication…
The value of costing nature in the fight against invasive species
Increasingly we are seeing the terms âecosystem servicesâ, âecosystem functioningâ and âecosystem processesâ in the media and the scientific literature, to highlight the benefits the natural environment provides to our wellbeing. Invasive species, from bivalves to balsams, have the potential to impact on ecosystem services, though it is widely accepted that there are gaps in…