A new regulation on invasive alien plants in Wallonie (Belgium)
From now on in Wallonie (Belgium), the provision, use or management of plant species or the transport of soil potentially contaminated by invasive alien plants should be in accordance with the ‘circular related to invasive alien plants’ approved on the 30th of May 2013.
Article 1 stipulates that planting invasive alien plants listed in Annex 1 is prohibited. These plants may only be planted in botanical gardens and arboreta if they are closely monitored and if measures are in place to prevent any spread of the species. Species listed in Annex 2 should not be planted within 50 metres of sites with a protection status according to the law on nature conservation or sites of high biological value. The introduction of species listed in Annex 2 is also prohibited within 50 metres of a watercourse.
Article 2 indicates that the movement of soil contaminated with seeds, rhizomes, tubers or any part of an invasive alien plant which could spread the species is prohibited. It is recommended to avoid the use and movement of soil from areas on which invasive alien plants listed in Annexes 1 and 2 are present, except if the soil is adequately treated. In particular, the presence of Fallopia spp. and Heracleum mantegazzianum (Apiaceae, EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants) will be the object of specific measures.
Article 3 states that the management of the plants listed in Annexes 1 and 2 should follow good practices validated by the Public Service of Wallonie.
Article 4 indicates that waste from the management of invasive alien plants populations should be gathered and destroyed.
Article 5 deals specifically with Fallopia spp. and indicates that the cutting and removal of rhizomes of Fallopia spp. is prohibited as this practice may spread the plant.
Annex 1 of invasive alien plants for which planting is prohibited in Belgium contains the following species: Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae, EPPO List of Invasive alien plants), Aster x salignus (Asteraceae), Baccharis halimifolia (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP), Bidens frondosa (Asteraceae), Crassula helmsii (Crassulaceae, EPPO A2 List), Cyperus eragrostis (Cyperaceae), Duchesnea indica (Rosaceae), Egeria densa (Hydrocharitaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Fallopia japonica (Polygonaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Fallopia sachalinensis (Polygonaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Fallopia x bohemica (Polygonaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Heracleum mantegazzianum (Apiaceae), Hyacinthoides hispanica (Asparagaceae), Hydrocotyle ranunculoides (Apiaceae, EPPO A2 List), Impatiens glandulifera (Balsaminaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Impatiens parviflora (Balsaminaceae), Lagarosiphon major (Hydrocharitaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Ludwigia grandiflora (Onagraceae, EPPO A2 List), L. peploides (Onagraceae, EPPO A2 List), Mimulus guttatus (Phrymaceae), Myriophyllum aquaticum (Haloragaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Myriophyllum heterophyllum (Haloragaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Persicaria wallichii (Polygonaceae), Prunus serotina (Rosaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Senecio inaequidens (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP), Solidago canadensis (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP), S. gigantea (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP) and Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (Asteraceae).
Annex 2 of invasive alien plants for which introduction is prohibited within and nearby protected sites and areas of high biological value and in the vicinity of watercourses contains the following species: Acer negundo (Sapincaceae), Acer rufinerve (Sapindaceae), Amelanchier lamarckii (Rosaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Aster novi-belgii (Asteraceae), Azolla filiculoides (Salviniaceae, EPPO Observation List of invasive alien plants), Buddleja davidii (Scrophulariaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Cornus sericea (Cornaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Cotoneaster horizontalis (Rosaceae), Elaeagnus angustifolia (Elaeagnaceae), Elodea canadensis (Hydrocharitaceae), E.;nuttallii (Hydrocharitaceae, EPPO List of IAP), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Oleaceae), Helianthus tuberosus (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP), Lemna minuta (Araceae), Lupinus polyphyllus (Fabaceae, EPPO Observation List of IAP), Lysichiton americanus (Araceae, EPPO Observation List of IAP), Mahonia aquifolium (Berberidaceae), Parthenocissus inserta (Vitaceae), Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Vitaceae), Prunus laurocerasus (Rosaceae), Rhododendron ponticum (Ericaceae, EPPO Observation List of IAP), Rhus typhina (Anacardiaceae), Rosa rugosa (Rosaceae), Rudbeckia laciniata (Asteraceae), Spiraea alba (Rosaceae), Spiraea douglasii (Rosaceae) and Spiraea x billardii (Rosaceae).
Sources
Moniteur Belge (2013) Circulaire relative aux plantes exotiques envahissantes. Région Wallonne. Service public de Wallonie. 30 mai 2013.