Invasive non-native species week

Pembrokeshire residents wishing to propose ideas on how to control Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) can do so by contacting Pembrokeshire County Council’s Biodiversity Implementation Officer.

Ant Rogers is one of the Authority’s biodiversity officers and he would like to hear the views of householders across the county as part of Invasive Species Week which runs from Monday February 29thuntil Friday March 4th.

Invasive Species Week is dedicated to raising awareness of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS). It coincides with being the fifth birthday of the Check Clean Dry campaign that promotes bio-security measures to help stop the spread of aquatic INNS.

The week is being organised by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat.

Pembrokeshire has its own INNS Action Plan, which pares the list of some 200 species identified at a UK level as being of concern down to 40 species of local concern. The plan provides a strategic approach to INNS control in the County.

Links are provided to factsheets and control measures published by the Great Britain Non-Native Secretariat (GBNNS) where available. The plan is available to view here on http://ukbars.defra.gov.uk/project/show/37479

“Invasive species can have a negative effect on our environment, health and economy and can quickly spread unless they controlled,” said Cabinet Spokesperson for the Environment and Regulatory Services Councillor Huw George.

“We’d like to hear from the people of Pembrokeshire on how they think we can control the spread of these species so that the fabric of our natural environment is not harmed by plants and aquatic life that has no right in being there.”

For more information, or if you would like to propose some practical conservation actions to help control INNS, please contact the Biodiversity Implementation Officer, Ant Rogers on 01437 7764551 or anthony.rogers@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Caption
Japanese Knotweed, One of the species highlighted in the plan