Be Plant Wise

John Kelly

Overview

• Introduction• Legislation• Some species of concern• Horticulture Code of Good Practice• Be Plant Wise• Spot the Alien • Timetable for the Be Plant Wise launch

What is an 'invasive species'?

'invasive' 'exotic''species'

'non-native''impact'

'native'

'pest'

'nuisance species'

'alien''eco-system services'

'naturalized''biodiversity'

'eco-system'

In summary…

Alien = exotic = introduced = non-native

Invasive = pest = nuisance species

The Bigger Picture

Second biggest threat to biodiversity worldwide- Biggest threat on islands

“The most important direct drivers of biodiversity loss and ecosystem service changes are habitat change …, climate change, invasive alien species, overexploitation, and pollution.”

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report

Counting the Cost

Invasive Species cost the European economy €12.7 billion/year• Estimated in the UK at £1.7bn

Compare with:• Australia - £6.5bn• Brazil - £25bn• India - £58bn• USA - £71bn, and• South Africa - £3.5bn

Legislation in ROI

• The European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011– Regulation 49. Prohibition on introduction and

dispersal of certain species – Regulation 50. Prohibition on dealing with and

keeping certain species

Keith Hiscock

ISSG

Damien Offer

Julia Nunn

Roy Anderson

ISSG

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Inland Fisheries Ireland

GB Non-native Species Secretariat

Controlling Invasive Species

Key Target Audiences

Horticulture Code of Good Practice

• Background• Aims and Status of this Code of Good Practice• Target audience• Geographic coverage

Limit the spread of invasive species

• Avoid further spread of known invasive species

• Be aware of relevant legislation• Dispose of waste responsibly

Guidance for buyers and importers

• Carry out a quick risk assessment of new species

Suppliers, retailers and purchasers

• Know what you are growing and buying• Be aware of hitch-hiking pests on plants and in

soil• Provide alternatives to invasive species• Provide advice on disposal: Be Plant Wise• Label plants clearly and accurately

– Trades Description Acts• Promote your compliance with this Code of Good

Practice

Control of invasive species

• Take advice on the best control techniques• Control invasive non-native plants safely

Partnership marketing

• Engagement with retail sector – trusted intermediaries– influence gardeners on our behalf

• Participating in the campaign helps them be seen as responsible retailers

• Cost effective

Sourcing Plants (base: ‘Gardeners’; n=416)

32Garden Centre

DIY Store (eg B&Q, Homebase etc)

Been given them by friends/relatives

Market/market stall/farmer's market

Retail nursery

Supermarket

Mail order/catalogue

Aquatic shop/centre

From wild plants from my local area (eg taking cuttings, uproot-ing)

From a website

Brought plants/cuttings etc home when I've been on holiday abroad

Other

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

78

48

32

25

22

21

6

5

5

3

3

4

%

Sources of Information about Plants (base: ‘Gardeners’; n=416)

33Labels on plants

Friends/relatives

Staff in Garden Centres, nurseries etc

Gardening programmes on TV/radio

Gardening books

I don't use any information or advice when buying plants

Information on seed packets

Gardening magazines

Internet

Newspapers

Gardening organisations such as RHS, Kew Gardens etc

By some other source of information/advice

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

47

44

33

20

16

16

15

13

9

8

3

1

%

Disposing of Plants (base: ‘Gardeners’; n=416)

34

Put them in the council garden waste

Compost them

Put them in the dustbin/waste bin

Take them to the tip/refuse dump

Burn them

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

60

40

13

12

3

%

4 respondents admitted to disposing of plants into the wild

2 admitted to planting them in the wild

1 admitted to putting aquatic plants into a pond, river or lake

Time table

• Public Launch – Thursday 8th of March– Horticulture Code of Good Practice– Be Plant Wise: primary focus!