Officials from the DOE Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) attended the second All-Ireland Invasive Species Forum, held today at the National Botanical Gardens at Glasnevin in Dublin.
The forum heard how the once widespread red squirrel has declined dramatically due to the spread of the invasive grey squirrel. Rhododendron has led to the reduction in our native plant cover due to the dense shade it spreads. Our native earthworms are declining due to predation by the New Zealand flatworm.
Invasive species are species from other countries that successfully establish themselves in our habitats and damage our native species by out-competing with them for habitat or food, preying on them, altering their habitat or by introducing disease or parasites.
To help address the threat posed by non-native invasive species, Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, commissioned the ‘Invasive Species in Ireland Project’ in 2006. The aim is to raise awareness among key organisations and stakeholders to prevent the arrival and spread of these species.
Bob Davidson, Senior Scientific Officer at the DOE Environment and Heritage Service said: “Non-native invasive species pose a huge threat to Northern Ireland’s biodiversity. With a joined-up approach to addressing this issue, highly invasive species such as Floating Pennywort, a floating aquatic plant from North America, can successfully be eradicated from our waterways.”
He highlighted the issues of non-native invasive species and was attended by more than 100 guests from a wide range of organisations.
Further information on invasive species and the All-Ireland Invasive Species Forum can be found at the Invasive species website
.
Notes to Editors:
- Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Republic of Ireland, joined forces to fund a three year study known as the ‘Invasive Species in Ireland Project’ by EnviroCentre and Quercus in May 2006.
- For Media enquiries - please contact DOE Press Office 028 9054 0014 or out-of-hours call EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
