Invasive plants and animals on banned list

Among the animals banned are corn snakes, wild boar, black rats, the red-necked wallaby and Siberian chipmunks.

The Ruddy duck and rose-ringed parakeet are also considered a threat.

Plant species including rhododendron, garden lupin and Brazilian giant-rhubarb have been listed.

No listed invasive species will be granted an import licence.

Any species already in the island as pets can remain, but they should not be bred.

‘With local biodiversity under threat by the introduction and spread of invasive non-native species, Environment & Infrastructure has approved a policy to manage emerging invasive non-native species,’ the spokeswoman said.

‘As part of this, a list of species has been compiled which are not permitted to be imported into Guernsey where natural diversity is threatened.’

The Asian hornet makes the list, as do a range of crayfish.

‘Invasive non-native species pose a threat to Guernsey’s environment, economy and public health,’ she said.

‘They are considered the third greatest threat to biodiversity, challenging the survival of some of Guernsey’s rarest species and harming some of our most sensitive ecosystems.

‘They are costly to manage, may damage infrastructure, built structures and commercial crops and impede Guernsey’s ability to move and supply drinking water.

‘Finally, they may carry diseases, be venomous or dangerous animals, or cause allergic reactions.’

Keeping these species out of the Bailiwick in the first instance is the most effective approach, the spokeswoman said.

Some impacts are already evident.

‘Areas of designated Sites of Special Significance are being degraded through the spread of sour fig, which smothers native plants, the American signal crayfish is impacting the stability of douits, and the removal of Japanese knotweed from land prior to development is costly.’