Alien species 'threat' to Broads

Non-native species like Giant Hogweed from the Caucuses are colonising the banks of waterways

Conservationists claim alien species of weeds and animals are endangering the fragile biodiversity of Norfolk and Suffolk's waterways.

The Non-native Species Initiative claims the invaders, like floating pennywort, are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity.

It says they cost the economy billions of pounds a year and areas such as the Broads are particularly at risk.

A meeting for local conservation groups outlined how they can be dealt with.

The Non-native Species Initiative points to New Zealand pigmyweed and floating pennywort that choke waterways, increasing the risk of flooding and out-competing native species.

Extinction risk

Other invasive alien species are also causing conservationists concern.

The native white-clawed crayfish, for example, is being pushed to the brink of extinction in many areas by the invasive North American signal crayfish.

On land, the rhododendron - which originally came from South Asia - can spread rapidly to dominate an area and prevent the re-growth of native plants by releasing toxic chemicals.

Michael Sutton-Croft, co-ordinator of the Norfolk Non-native Species Initiative, said: "While significant progress has been made in addressing the other threats there has been little concerted effort to address the problems posed by invasive alien species."

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