Anàlisi preliminar de la percepció i la gestió de les invasions vegetals en espais naturals protegits de Catalunya

Invasive exotic plants are considered to be one of the
largest threats to native biodiversity. For this reason,
we have undergone a compilation of data about the
impacts and management strategies of invasive
plants in some natural areas of Catalonia, which are
considered representative for the ecosystems of this
region. Our objectives are: to (1) evaluate the problem
perception by public administrations, (2)
identify those plants that represent a major threat
according to environmental managers, (3) make an
inventory of management strategies carried out in
these natural areas, and finally (4) estimate the
economic consequences of invasive plants management.
The data has been obtained through the
sending of questionnaires to environmental managers
responsible for the management of invasive
plants. We have performed more than 30 contacts, of
which 67 % have identified plant invasions as a
threat for native biodiversity in their natural areas.
These respondents have considered that biological
invasions occupy, in average, the fifth place in
relation to other environmental problems of the
region. They have cited a total of 61 problematic
invasive plants in their areas of responsibility. The
species mentioned in more cases have been
Ailanthus altissima, followed by Cortaderia selloana,
Buddleja davidii, Robinia pseudoacacia,
Senecio inaequidens, Arundo donax, Carpobrotus
edulis and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. Thirty-one
of the 61 problematic invasive plants have been
managed, being Ailanthus altissima the species
managed in more places, followed by Carpobrotus
edulis, Arundo donax and Cortaderia selloana. The
control and eradication of these plants were the
management strategies more applied in the studied
areas, and they are also the most valuated by the
respondents. A total of 151.020 $ have been invested
for the management of invasive plants in the
contacted natural areas. The species that has caused
major management costs is Senecio inaequidens.
Nonetheless, the exact costs of most of the applied
management actions are unknown to the respondents
therefore an accurate economic valuation is quite
difficult to achieve.