Non-native plants a growing threat to island’s biodiversity

Those who like local wildlife might be interested to know that I have produced a Guernsey Natural Tree and Shrub Guide, for the planting and encouragement of native, nature-friendly trees and shrubs. The guide lists all the Guernsey-specific native trees, as well as a large selection of shrubs, and includes information such as maps and an amenity section. It should be of use to landowners, gardeners, architects, landscape gardeners and parish constables and is soon to be endorsed by La Societe Guernesiaise. It is only a computer file, but contact me if you would like a free copy.

It would be well for the island to adjust its perception that Guernsey is a sort of ‘paradise island’ with vibrant natural assets that can largely take care of themselves. In reality Guernsey is well down the road to the loss of all of its truly wild places. Escaped garden plants and non-native trees are taking over, animal pests such as the Asian hornet need dealing with and infrastructure development is removing habitat. Bit by bit, non-native species are pushing out Guernsey’s wild plants and associated fauna. Guernsey’s tree population has in the space of only 120 years deteriorated from the majority of its large trees being native to the current situation where only about 2% are; a very low figure, decreasing, and not at all typical of Britain or Normandy/Brittany. Yet despite the wealth of the island, there is very little public money available to change anything.

For quite a few years now the Committee for Environment & Infrastructure has had very little to spend on conservation work, its diminished budget generally being exhausted on health and safety work and essential infrastructure maintenance (such as L’Ancresse wall, the removal of which I happen to be in favour of). The committee has had to resort to measures such as requesting £80,000 for a Guernsey Biodiversity Strategy, which was graciously accepted by the House (I might add in spite of an attempted blocking amendment by Deputy Kuttelwascher, an advocate of a runway extension with an estimated price tag of £25m.-£30m.).

However, the one-off procurement of £80,000 was only a tiny fraction of the funding required for conservation work. The States’ management of its wild areas remains under-funded and its relative investment in the island’s nature assets must surely fall well below that of Jersey, France and the UK. Doubly so considering the establishment’s policy of intense and ongoing infrastructure development, for which the States should arguably be factoring in an environmental offset. Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services is also acutely under-staffed. Thus, despite the amount of money in the island and the dedication of a few professionals and volunteers, only a small amount of the necessary conservation work can be undertaken. When invasive plants and pests appear they need to be swiftly removed before they spread and permanently ‘de-naturalise’ wild places. Unfortunately, despite the dedication of professionals, volunteers and local charities, the available workforce is inadequate to the job and in many cases poor-for-wildlife, non-native plants have become permanent features of Guernsey’s landscape. Montbretia (crocosmia, the orange-flowered garden plant), appears to have been deliberately spread in just the last four years and can no longer be contained. Next will be German ivy (actually from South Africa), probably one of the most unstoppable invasive species that Guernsey has seen and unremovable even with the most powerful legal herbicides. (It is especially disheartening to see garden waste such as Japanese knotweed and fuchsia being fly-tipped into wild areas by a small minority of gardeners.)

Guernsey’s loss of habitat is generally in advance of Britain and France’s, so Guernsey’s laws and public sensibilities need to be appropriately more advanced and sophisticated. For years now we have been waiting for a Guernsey law to mirror that of the UK’s (Schedule 9), prohibiting the spreading of invasive species into the wild. The causes of delay cannot be laid at the feet of the civil service, but are due to chronic underfunding and political apathy. Ultimately though, laws cannot be a solution and the future of the island’s ecosystem will be determined by public attitude.

For people to be more conscientious and grounded in the replacement of poor-for-wildlife, non-native trees and shrubs with Guernsey-native ones is one reason behind the Guernsey Natural Tree & Shrub Guide. Trees and shrubs generally have a large influence on the natural vitality of a place, often spanning hundreds of years. Consider Guernsey’s most common oak, the non-native holm oak. No doubt of great benefit for wildlife in the Mediterranean, in Britain it hosts only five insect species. The native oak it is replacing, English oak, was common for thousands of years up until the German Occupation but is now only an occasional tree. It hosts 423 species and is unsurpassed in its value for wildlife.

ANDREW LEE

Lee-a@gmx.com