Globalization has different effects and some are not always positive on ecosystems. Certain plants or shrubs imported into our regions cause environmental damage because of their invasive nature. The public authorities are aware of this: regulations exist to contain them.
Invasive or invasive plant, what's the difference?
First of all, we must make a distinction between invasive plant and invasive plant. The 2 types of plants are not subject to the same legal regime. Because they do not have the same characteristics and the same dangers.
What is an invasive plant?
An invasive plant is a so-called exotic species which has been imported for its economic interest or for the decoration of our gardens.
It can come from anywhere: North America, Africa, Asia…
The invasive plant is one which:
Transforms and degrades natural environments significantly, sometimes irreversibly.
Proliferates rapidly and leads to the impoverishment of the ecosystem, preventing other species from surviving there.
Leads to disorders requiring human intervention, causing damage with an economic impact.
These plants establish themselves particularly in already impoverished or degraded environments where they proliferate even more quickly. They have no local predators or parasites, which allows them to multiply at high speed.
What is an invasive plant?
Unlike invasive plants, invasive plants are those that colonize our natural environments without degrading them.
These can be native (local) species but also so-called exotic species, as long as their presence does not endanger biodiversity.
What are invasive species?
There are numerous invasive species, the list of which is constantly fluctuating. It also depends on the regions. Certain plants will be considered invasive in one part of the territory and not in the other.
Other plants are still considered “generally” invasive throughout the territory.
Here are some examples :
Pampas grass
The blue-leaved mimosa
The mimosa
The ailante
The juice
Japanese knotweed
Giant Hogweed
(Source: Order of February 14, 2018 relating to the prevention of the introduction and spread of invasive exotic plant species on metropolitan territory).
Also readHow to get rid of the creeping roots of mimosa?
What are invasive plants or species?
Many plants are considered invasive. Among the best known, we can remember:
Reed
Oenanthes
The willow herb
Bindweed
Good to know
There is no official list of invasive plants.
Invasive or invasive plants, what does the law say?
Legally, there is a distinction to be made between the 2 types of plants.
Can you buy or plant or sell invasive plants at home?
Article L411-4 of the Environmental Code establishes a clear principle: it is prohibited to introduce into the natural environment either voluntarily or through negligence a so-called invasive species and designated as such by the administrative authority. These plants are prohibited from marketing in the territory, so we cannot buy or resell them.
Article L411-5 of the Environmental Code provides for its terms of application. It thus explains how the list of these prohibited plants is established, namely by joint orders of the Minister responsible for Agriculture and/or, if necessary, the Minister responsible for Nature Protection and maritime fishing (these orders are taken after opinion of the National Nature Protection Council: article R411-31 of the Environmental Code).
To note
in France, a specific “plant health” laboratory within ANSES (national agency for food, environmental and occupational health safety) is responsible for closely monitoring the proliferation of species invasive and assess their risks.
The list of prohibited plants necessarily includes invasive alien species of concern for the European Union (EU), as set by the European Commission in Article 4 of Regulation No. 1143/2014 adopted on October 22, 2014. The EU is in fact came to regulate this matter with a list of exotic species for which a risk assessment is carried out.
Good to know
This regulation also concerns animal species. Like plants, not all plants can be introduced into the wild.
Can you buy, plant or sell invasive plants?
Non-invasive invasive plants can be planted, bought or sold on the territory.
However, care must be taken to ensure that their planting does not cause disruption in the neighborhood.
For example, you can buy so-called tracing bamboo without any difficulty. But you must take precautions so that no one is inconvenienced by their presence by putting an anti-rhizome barrier when planting them.
Invasive or invasive plants, what problems do they pose?
Where invasive plants populate environments, invasive plants lead to their impoverishment. Through their colonizing action, invasive plants radically transform the territories they occupy, preventing the maintenance of biodiversity.
These plants can present a danger to human health because of the allergies they can trigger.
They can also become a brake on human activities and the economy or agriculture by invading crops. Certain aquatic varieties also have effects on navigation conditions or water reservoirs (by asphyxiation of water points intended for human consumption).
What should you do if you encounter an invasive or invasive plant in your home?
Several actions can be taken.
Faced with an invasive plant you can:
Pull out the plants.
Dry them.
Burn them.
You can also report its presence to ANSES and its dedicated laboratory.
You can also alert the municipal, departmental or regional services concerned who will relay the information. Containment measures could then be considered.
When faced with an invasive plant, everything depends on you: if you don't want it to proliferate in the garden, stop its progression by pulling it out as you would weeds.
Invasive or invasive plants, what to remember
Some plants can be beautiful. Exotic, they carry with them numerous horizons of ornament and pleasure in our flowerbeds. But be careful, their presence can colonize our environments and cause significant damage to biodiversity. Their introduction can also irreparably modify landscapes.
Be careful with these plants that are easily accessible by ordering online or by cuttings. It is about sustainable development, which is weakened today.
If you have any doubts about whether or not a plant is invasive, consult the list established by the Order of February 14, 2018 relating to the prevention of the introduction and spread of invasive exotic plant species on metropolitan territory.
You can also inquire with the local authorities who will inform you.
Although other plants may seem invasive to you, they are not invasive. They damage the environment less but they remain painful for the gardener, as can be the case with bindweed.
In all cases, you can act by weeding and drying these plants: you will prevent their spread in the wild.