The Invasive Plant Problem And How To Stop It From Growing

In recent years, many environmental professionals have identified invasive plant species as notable threats to the environment. Fighting these threats is a viable way to help protect habitats and promote a more sustainable future. 

While invasive plant species often blend seamlessly into natural environments, they can also wreak havoc in various ecosystems and cause ripple effects that can be felt on the broadest socio-economic levels. 

The Invasive Species Center defines invasive plants as “harmful non-native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants that are spread by global trade, human and animal transport, and gardening.” Once the species is introduced to an ecosystem, the plants impede other native plants and wildlife from reaching the resources needed for them to thrive. A 2020 study outlining the environmental impacts of invasive species names them as a “growing threat to global sustainability,” affecting not only ecosystems but also socio-economic conditions. The pervasion of invasive species leads to biodiversity loss, impacting climate conditions and agricultural output which threatens population wellbeing. In these ways, invasive plants pose a significant threat to the complex interwoven systems that stem from environmental health. 

To negate the impact of invasive species, many countries have turned to enacting legislative policies. These policies can take the form of regulatory agencies, border inquiries and fees on non normative imports. However, as explained by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN),  the  rate at which invasive species are being introduced to different countries still refuses to decelerate.  According to current trajectories, there will be a 36% increase in alien species by 2050. 

Although the situation seems daunting, there are many ways that individuals can take action to protect ecosystems around the world. The most evident solution would be to remove the invasive plant; however, this practice requires adequate knowledge in order to be effective. Invasive species vary greatly in form and act in differing ways therefore inadequate knowledge can exacerbate the problem. Specifically, incorrect removal can encourage the propagation of invasive plants and even personal injury. For example, the invasive hogweed or Heracleum sphondylium can cause phytophotodermatitis if touched. This is to say that removal processes are very specific to the plant, but with proper procedures, they can be very effective. Invasive plant removal also requires dedication as plants often need to be pulled several times to eliminate regrowth. Therefore, this kind of practice is most efficient in commonly frequented areas like a backyard.

Along with careful and specific removal practices, there have been many individually-led projects that aim to decrease the presence of invasive plant species. For example, in Guelph Ontario, researchers released moths and weevils in an attempt to control garlic mustard growth. The pilot project aims to determine if the release of these insects is a solution that doesn’t provoke other negative environmental impacts. The pilot project is promising because it proposes a sustainable solution that reduces the need for chemical herbicides. These herbicides are considered harmful because of the active ingredient glyphosate which has been proven to harm environments along with their wildlife and has the potential to have adverse health effects on humans. Although initiatives like this may only be useful in smaller scales, their ingenuity highlights the potential of smaller community-based solutions instead of solely focusing on universalizing answers.

Moreover, environmental activists like Les Stroud and Alexis Nikole Nelson (@BlackForager) advocate for the consumption of invasive plant species through television and on social media. While not capable of solving the problem, foraging invasive plants for sustenance, or opting for invasive species food alternatives can help in mitigating the issue. However, it is important to remain intentional with these actions as the aim is not to turn the invasive plant into a desirable option that necessitates its continued survival. The goal of these interventions is to draw attention to the issue of invasive plant species, in turn supporting the wellbeing of native plants and  fighting the loss of biodiversity. 

While invasive plants threaten every country, each species has a unique characteristics and challenges, thus prompting the necessity of individual intervention and creative solutions. An example of one of these complex situations exists in the appearance of water hyacinths in the Pasig river in the Philippines. This South American plant dangerously reduces the amount of oxygen in the water but also helps  remove the presence of heavy metal pollutants. In this case, the complete removal of the plant would simultaneously benefit and disadvantage the wellbeing of the waterway. Therefore, going forward, it is always helpful to learn about the flora and fauna of your environment and to become acquainted with the needs of plants. This research will also lead to the acknowledgement of possible threats and how to deal with them. Every small action goes toward mitigating the impacts of invasive plant species.