The red-bellied bulbul, tree strangler, Thai squirrel and 19 other plants and animals were added to the EU’s list of invasive exotics on Tuesday. These are species that damage nature in the EU or may do so in the future.
The list includes species that are not native to the EU. People have brought the plants and animals from outside the EU. This is sometimes done deliberately, for example for the trade in ornamental plants and pets. Sometimes it happens unconsciously, for example when species piggyback on imported goods.
A number of prohibitions apply to species on the list. For example, possession, trade, cultivation, transport and import are prohibited. The EU wants to prevent species from settling permanently. Invasive exotics can damage our own nature.
The red-bellied bulbul (a bird), the Thai squirrel, the common kingsnake, the red fire ant, the russet American crayfish, and the African clawed frog are some of the animals on the list. Three plant species have been added: the Afghan knotweed, the tree strangler and the water lettuce.
The tree strangler is a woody creeper that wraps itself around the trunk and branches of trees. The stems can easily climb up to 12 meters high in trees.
The tree strangler is a woody creeper that wraps itself around the trunk and branches of trees. The stems can easily climb up to 12 meters high in trees. Photo: Getty Images
Don’t throw your water lettuce in the green bin
Anyone who has one of those plants in the garden or pond does not have to remove it immediately. “Make sure that the plant does not multiply or spread,” says the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). If you want to get rid of the plant, you should throw it with the residual waste and not in the vegetable waste bin or on a compost heap. This prevents the plant from spreading.
Traders who are one of the 22 species have in their stock, they are allowed to sell for another year. A transition period has been agreed for some species. For example, the prohibition rules for water lettuce, the African clawed frog and Fundulus heteroclitus (a fish) apply after two years. In the case of the tree strangler, it is five years.