Eradication and control of invasive alien plants in the Mediterranean Basin: towards better coordination to enhance existing initiatives

Abstract

The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), in the framework of its activities in the Mediterranean Basin, launched a questionnaire to gather information on eradication actions and control actions for invasive alien plants. Thirty‐four (34) eradication actions were reported, 16 occurring in Spain, 7 in Italy, 7 in France, 1 in Portugal, 1 in Malta, and 2 on the southern rim of the Mediterranean, with 1 in Israel and 1 in Tunisia. Twenty‐two (22) species were targeted, and the habitats where such actions were undertaken most frequently were coastal dunes, sandy shores and aquatic ecosystems. Most of the species that have been the object of an eradication action were known invasive species recorded in the EPPO lists, such as Ailanthus altissima, Buddleia davidii, Carpobrotus spp., Eichhornia crassipes, Ludwigia peploides, Pennisetum setaceum, Pistia stratiotes, Solanum elaeagnifolium and Sicyos angulatus. Other eradicated species have a limited distribution in the EPPO region and may represent emerging invasive plants, such as Ambrosia confertifolia, Cylindropuntia rosea, Leersia oryzoides, Leptochloa fusca subsp. uninervia and Marsilea drummondii. Control actions concerning 90 species were also reported. A large number of eradication actions, as well as management actions, are therefore happening in Mediterranean countries. At present countries appear to operate with complete autonomy, without consulting neighbouring countries or other stakeholders within the country. There is therefore a need for coordination of new eradication actions.

The impact of Carpobrotus cfr. acinaciformis (L.) L. Bolus on soil nutrients, microbial communities structure and native plant communities in Mediterranean ecosystems

“…in Europe is relatively ancient, dating back to the 17th century (Fournier 1952), the naturalization and the subsequent spread in the Mediterranean Basin began between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century (Lojacono-Pojero 1891;Sanz-Elorza et al 2004). Nowadays C. edulis, C. acinaciformis and their hybrids forms are considered a major threat to biological diversity and ecosystem functioning of Mediterranean islands (Brundu 2013), where they are undergoing a number of control and eradication programs in order to protect native biodiversity (Brunel et al 2013).…”

Pollination and reproduction of an invasive plant inside and outside its ancestral range

“…(silverleaf nightshade, Solanaceae) is a short-lived perennial herb with an ancestral range in the southwest to west-central USA and northern Mexico. By the 1970s the species had spread throughout the USA (Kearney et al 1969;Munz 1974;Boyd et al 1984;Mekki 2007) and to all continents except Antarctica (Tscheulin et al 2009;Brunel et al 2013). Plants often act as ruderals that colonize disturbed sites (USDA 2006;Tscheulin et al 2008Tscheulin et al , 2009.…”

Seed germination requirements of Hypericum scruglii, an endangered medicinal plant species of Sardinia (Italy)

“…Recognition of the threats posed by invasive alien species (IAS) is a relatively recent development in the Mediterranean region as a whole, but the eradication of invasive plants has now become one of the most common management actions throughout the region. Considerable experience has been accumulated, with a total of 33 invasive plant eradication and control actions recorded in the area by 2013: 16 in Spain, 7 in Italy, 7 in France, 1 in Malta and 2 in the southern Mediterranean (Brunel et al, 2013). More recently, further eradication programmes have been implemented in other Mediterranean territories, such as Sardinia (Acunto et al, 2017) and the Pontine Archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Celesti-Grapow et al, 2017).…”

“…Finally, it should be borne in mind that issues often forgotten in technical restoration work, such as public acceptance and social integration, or the conservation of crop wild relatives, together with new challenges arising from globalisation and climate change, including the increase in invasive species, for example, will have a much more serious impact in Mediterranean countries in the future Hunter et al, 2012;Brunel et al, 2013). A new scenario will be created in which it is necessary to continually reevaluate the lessons learned from the past, and to embark upon a strategy of adaptive management of ecological restoration practices.…”