By Claire O'Sullivan
Monday, July 06, 2009
A RAFT of plants are to be banned from sale in garden centres later
this year as the Department of the Environment moves to curb the
damage inflicted on Irish wildlife by the importation of non-native
species.
It is understood it will be an offence to possess the listed species
for "the purpose of sale or dispersal or to transfer the species from
one place to another within the country".
Householders who have such species will be advised how to dispose of them.
Water plants pose a particular threat to biodiversity with species
such as the African or curly-leaved pondweed wiping out native weed in
Lough Corrib. The weed, and the insects who feed on it, attract the
lake's renowned brown trout.
According to the Department, the ban is being introduced to meet
Ireland's obligations under the EU Habitats Directive and will form
part of the Birds and Habitats Regulations that are to be made law
later this year.
Among other species likely to appear on the list are Water fern
(Azolla filiculoides), New Zealand pygmyweed (Crassula helmsii),
Nuttall's pondweed (Elodea nuttallii), Parrot's feather (Myriophyllum
aquaticum) and Fringed water lily (Nymphoides peltata),
A public consultation process will also be in place.
Senior research officer with the Central Fisheries Board, Dr Joe
Caffrey, said: "Without the appropriate regulations a great number of
our habitats and species will be under threat."
This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner
Monday, July 06, 2009
Monday, July 06, 2009
A RAFT of plants are to be banned from sale in garden centres later
this year as the Department of the Environment moves to curb the
damage inflicted on Irish wildlife by the importation of non-native
species.
It is understood it will be an offence to possess the listed species
for "the purpose of sale or dispersal or to transfer the species from
one place to another within the country".
Householders who have such species will be advised how to dispose of them.
Water plants pose a particular threat to biodiversity with species
such as the African or curly-leaved pondweed wiping out native weed in
Lough Corrib. The weed, and the insects who feed on it, attract the
lake's renowned brown trout.
According to the Department, the ban is being introduced to meet
Ireland's obligations under the EU Habitats Directive and will form
part of the Birds and Habitats Regulations that are to be made law
later this year.
Among other species likely to appear on the list are Water fern
(Azolla filiculoides), New Zealand pygmyweed (Crassula helmsii),
Nuttall's pondweed (Elodea nuttallii), Parrot's feather (Myriophyllum
aquaticum) and Fringed water lily (Nymphoides peltata),
A public consultation process will also be in place.
Senior research officer with the Central Fisheries Board, Dr Joe
Caffrey, said: "Without the appropriate regulations a great number of
our habitats and species will be under threat."
This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner
Monday, July 06, 2009
