Unmanaged invasive plants can overwhelm and alter natural habitats, disrupting delicate ecosystems, threatening wildlife and posing a serious threat to biodiversity. We must control their spread in our precious nature reserves to protect these wild places for both people and wildlife in the future.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
Invasive plant species are on the increase across some of Somerset’s most precious habitats, competing with native plants both rare and common, and changing ecosystems irreparably. Once established they’re costly and difficult to control. Warmer and wetter conditions brought about by climate change favour their spread, and this will only worsen over time. Immediate and effective control is crucial to curb their growth and protect these unique habitats and irreplaceable wild spaces.
Solution
We need to allocate significantly more time and resources now in order to help reduce the prolific spread and impact of invasive plants, and all this on top of managing an already intensive seasonal reserves management programme. Specialist contractors have skills and equipment that can support our reserves staff efforts, but these come at a cost. However, investment is vital if we are to keep habitats in good condition and functioning as core areas in Somerset’s nature recovery network.