In recent years, invasion of eco-systems by alien
\nspecies has become a major problem in many parts of the world. Apart from the
\nexpanding human activities, climate change also affects the intrusion of such
\nspecies and their spread in new territories, leading to the disruption of
\nhabitats.<\/p>\n
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The
\nsituation is so critical that the European Parliament and EU Council found it
\nnecessary to put together a Regulation to prevent and manage the introduction and
\noverpopulation of such species. According to the document, the presence of alien
\nspecies, whether animals, plants, or microorganisms, in a natural environment
\nwhere they are not normally found, is not always a reason for concern. However,
\na significant part of these alien species may become invasive, with serious
\nnegative consequences on biodiversity and habitats, as well as other social and
\neconomic effects that must be prevented. <\/p>\n
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Around
\n12,000 species in Europe are alien, and 10% to 15% of them are estimated to be
\ninvasive. The threat they pose takes various forms, including a negative impact
\non local species and on the structure and functioning of ecosystems by altering
\nhabitats and competition among species, by transmitting diseases, by replacing
\nlocal species and hybridisation. Moreover, invasive alien species may also have
\na significant impact on human health and economy. <\/p>\n
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The
\nsame situation is to be found in Romania as well, where the environment
\nwatchdog Conservation Carpathia found 6 invasive alien plant species in the
\nsouth-east of the F\u0103g\u0103ra\u0219 Mountains, alongside water courses. The organisation
\nis taking steps to eliminate these species, as biologist Oliviu Pop told us: <\/p>\n
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\n
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\n
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Oliviu
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Conservation
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Only
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Oliviu
<\/p>\n
Oliviu
In recent years, invasion of eco-systems by alien species has become a major problem<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44315],"tags":[44431,40034,44435,44433,35375,44434,44432,44430,36974,43850],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-153443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-green-planet","tag-alien","tag-carpathia","tag-conservation","tag-ecosystems","tag-environment","tag-habitats","tag-ias","tag-invasive","tag-plant","tag-species"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nPop<\/strong>: These invasive plants, which are
\nin fact invasive alien species, appear in natural habitats that are degraded or
\nabandoned, such as abandoned fields or meadows or areas where waste has been
\ndumped. In time, they spread and eliminate the native species in those areas,
\nin other words they reduce biodiversity. These invasive plants gradually
\neliminate valuable species, rare protected species or fodder plants. Recent climate
\nchanges, more and more substantial, also help such alien species take control. As
\ntheir name suggests, these are species introduced, either accidentally or
\ndeliberately, in the respective areas. <\/p>\n
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\nCarpathia focuses on protecting nature, on reconstructing the areas affected in
\nthe past by excessive forest harvesting, for example, and on restoring balance
\nin nature. To this end, a scientific study, coordinated by Oliviu Pop, has been
\nconducted along the main water courses and their tributaries in the southern
\npart of the F\u0103g\u0103ra\u0219 Mountains. Based on the findings of this scientific
\nresearch, Conservation Carpathia put together an action plan, under which this
\nsummer it organised actions to eliminate invasive alien plant species, together
\nwith Romanian and foreign employees and volunteers. <\/p>\n
\n
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\nenvironment-friendly methods have been used, such as close cutting or uprooting.
\nThese activities will carry on for several years, until the spread of such
\nspecies along the water courses included in the project has been reduced by at
\nleast 50%. Here is Oliviu Pop once again: <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
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\nPop<\/strong>: We are currently implementing a project
\nto rebuild natural habitats, which includes both the habitats in riparian
\nareas, which are the most severely affected by human activities, and the
\nreconstruction of forests and shrubbery in the alpine area. Apart from planting
\nor replanting species that are native in these riparian areas, we are trying in
\ncertain places to eliminate the invasive species. We started out by making an
\ninventory of the species along 165 km of river valleys, and then, together with
\nour employees and volunteers, we gradually managed to eliminate some of the invasive
\nspecies in those riparian habitats, on approx. 37 km. And now we are trying to
\nmonitor and see what happens, how such new species appear, while at the same working
\nto restore these habitats, to replant the willows and alder, which are specific
\nto these areas. <\/p>\n
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\nPop also warns that some invasive alien species have flowers and may seem
\nbeautiful, as a decorative species, but in ecologic terms they are still
\nharmful. This topic, hardly ever discussed in the past, will be of growing
\nimportance in the years to come, and actions such as the ones run by Conservation
\nCarpathia will be increasingly frequent at national and European level, the
\nenvironmental organisation predicts. (tr. A.M. Popescu)<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"