Defra is funding CABI to investigate the biological control of invasive, non-native aquatic and riverside weeds. This could help protect habitats where chemical and mechanical control are impractical or prohibitively expensive; and to help meet requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive.
See the latest updates of our work.
Himalayan balsam
The total costs in Wales of dealing with invasive species over the years has been put at £7bn by Wildlife Trusts Wales, the collective body for nature trusts throughout Wales.
An inquiry found that Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and rhododendron were having a ‘significant negative economy and environment impact’ on parts of Wales.
A new paper discusses biological control (using natural enemies) of plants that have escaped from gardens and are invading wild habitats in UK. These include Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, Australian swamp stonecrop, floating pennywort, giant hogweed, water fern, rhododendron and buddleja.
