Invasive species, whether flora or fauna, can be devastating
to habitats. That’s why the UK government has recently decided to ban the sale
of five non-native, alien aquatic plants in the country. The five include water
fern, parrot’s feather, floating pennywort, water primrose and Australian swamp
stonecrop.
Vulnerable habitats are being overrun by the species. “Tough
laws to curb the sale of these plants could save the country millions of pounds
as well as protecting wildlife such as fish and native plants,” said Environment
Minister Richard Benyon, according to the BBC.
This is the first time that the government has banned
non-native plants from being sold in England. Invasive species, as defined by
the Non-Native
Species Secretariat (NNSS) are those that have been brought in by humans
(accidentally or purposefully) and are now “having a detrimental impact on the
economy, wildlife or habitats of Britain.”
The five plants being banned from sale were originally
planted in garden ponds but, being invasive, have since moved into the wild.
They “formed dense mats in water, depleting light availability, causing
declines in the numbers of fish and other aquatic species.” The goal is for the
ban to last a decade or more, slowing the spread of the plants and hopefully
gaining some measure of control over them.
“Our waterways are unique wildlife corridors, home to huge
variety of animals and plants,” said Chris John of the Canal & River Trust,
“to which non-native invasives can cause all sorts of problems.”
Selling the plants after the ban goes into effect could cost
retailers up to £5,000 and six months in prison. It will start being enforced
beginning in April 2014.
0 Comments