Native Plant Conservation Campaign News: New European Union Regulation Combats Invasive Non-Native Plants and Animals 

August 3, 2016

 

Today, a new European Union regulation on invasive exotic species takes effect.  The continent-wide rules now make it illegal to import, keep, breed or grow, transport, sell or use, or release into the environment without a permit the listed invasive, non-native plant and animal species.

 

The 14 plants listed include the American skunk cabbage, which has invaded Scottish marshes and has wiped out all of the native flora at one site in the UK. Curly waterweed, also on the list, has increased by 41% in 15 years in the UK, while floating pennywort can spread at a rate of 20cm per day.

 

Invasive plants and animals have been estimated to cost the United Kingdom alone at least $2.3 billion/year.

 

Read the full story in the Guardian UK

 

For more information on international native plant initiatives, see the NPCC's International Plant Conservation Links page

 

 

American skunk cabbage

Asiatic tearthumb

Curly waterweed

Eastern baccharis

Floating pennywort

Floating primrose

Green cambomba

Kudzu vine

Parrot’s feather

Persian hogweed

Water hyacinth

Water primrose (two species)

Whitetop weed