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26th January 2010
EUROPEAN SQUIRREL INITIATIVE WELCOMES NEW REPORT ON INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES
The European Squirrel Initiative (ESI) has welcomed the publication of a new report (1) into the impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity.
Co-ordinated by the Global Invasive Species Programme, the report found that, on average there are 50 non-indigenous species per country which have a negative impact on biodiversity.
For the past eight years ESI has been raising awareness of the impact of the American grey squirrel on Britain’s – and Europe’s – native flora and fauna. Introduced into the UK in 1876, the grey squirrel has been altering our natural landscape, destroying woodlands and parks and damaging the UK’s biodiversity.
“This report highlights the irreversible damage which alien species can cause to biodiversity internationally,” said Miles Barne, Chairman of ESI. “One of the most destructive alien species in the UK is the grey squirrel, which has all but destroyed our native population of red squirrels. We need to wake up to exactly how much this non-native mammal is affecting our biodiversity.”
The grey squirrel is listed among the 100 worst invasive species by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). ESI has been lobbying government at a national and European level to take a more effective approach to the control of alien species and grey squirrels in particular.
According to the report Invasive species are one of the top three threats to life on this planet and while most countries have made an international commitment to tackle this threat only half have introduced relevant legislation and even fewer are taking adequate action on the ground.
Ends
(1) Global indicators of biological invasion: species numbers, biodiversity impact and policy responses
The publication was produced by scientists from the Centre for Invasion Biology (Stellenbosch University), BirdLife International and IUCN.
Full publication available at: http://www.gisp.org/whatsnew/docs/McGeochetal2010.PDF
