The end of Japanese Knotweed ( JK)?? - Page 3

 



Sweet and Lovely, the Girl from Ipomoea?


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(¯`·. ®óñ©  ©  ²°¹° .·´¯)

 


 A Japanese insect is to be introduced on a trial basis in Britain to
tackle a damaging super-weed, the government announced.

The Japanese knotweed was originally used as an ornamental plant in
gardens across Britain but has rapidly spread, costing over 150
million pounds (225 million dollars, 165 million euros) a year to
control.

Agricultural and environmental research organisation CABI claim the
psyllid bug from Japan -- or "jumping plant lice" -- is a successful
and natural way of controlling the weed.

"We have every reason to believe that this knotweed specialist can
help limit impacts of this harmful invasive weed safely and
sustainably," said Dick Shaw, lead researcher of the project.

The non-native bug will be released to a small number of sites across
England this spring -- the locations are being kept secret to prevent
the trials being disrupted -- and monitored to check progress.

Huw Irranca-Davies, a minister at the Department for Environment and
Rural Affairs (Defra), said: "This project is not only ground-
breaking, it offers real hope that we can redress the balance.

"These tiny insects, which naturally prey on Japanese knotweed, will
help free local authorities and industry from the huge cost of
treating and killing this devastating plant."

The plant can grow up to a metre a month, causing damage to anything
in its path such as buildings, roads and pavements.

CABI says it is sure the psyllid will only target the Japanese
knotweed and a few other similar non-native species, after testing it
on 90 different British plant species over seven years.

Critics say this is not guaranteed and the bug could target other
species once released. CABI says it has contingency plans in place
just in case.

"There are isolated sites in the south of the country .. so that we
can monitor very closely and have a contingency plan in place, and
then it'll be a wider scale release if it passes that test," Shaw told
BBC radio.

 



Remember the Cane Toad?
--
Jim S
        Tyneside UK
     www.jimscott.co.uk

 

In article

So i wonder what the contingency plans consist of?

:)
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

 


Take off and nuke it from orbit.