EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 01 - 2024 Num. article: 2024/024

Best management guide for invasive alien aquatic and riparian plant species


The EU LIFE funded project RIPARIAS has produced a best management guide for the control and eradication of invasive alien aquatic and riparian plant species. The guide details methods for the control of specific alien plant species and the methods presented have been shown to have an acceptable level of effectiveness at the local scale (Table 1). The management guide also includes case studies for some of the species where such management actions have taken place against specific species in Belgium. These case studies describe both success stories and failed management actions.


Table 1. Invasive alien plants with best management practices recommended.

Species

Family

EPPO Status

Best management practises

Aponogeton distachyos

Aponogetonaceae


Manual removal

Cabomba caroliniana

Cabombaceae

List IAP

Manual removal, mechanical removal, substrate removal, light deprivation

Crassula helmsii

Crassulaceae

A2 List

Light deprivation, environmental management

Egeria densa

Hydrocharitaceae

List IAP

Manual removal, mechanical removal, light deprivation

Erythranthe guttata

Phrymaceae


Manual removal

Heracleum mantegazzianum

Apiaceae

List IAP

Manual removal, mechanical removal, grazing

Heracleum persicum

Apiaceae

A2 List

Manual removal, mechanical removal, grazing

Heracleum sosnowskyi

Apiaceae

A2 List

Manual removal, mechanical removal, grazing

Houttuynia cordata

Saururaceae

Alert List

Manual removal

Hydrocotyle ranunculoides

Araliaceae

A2 List

Manual removal, mechanical removal

Impatiens glandulifera

Balsaminaceae

List IAP

Manual removal, mechanical removal, grazing

Koenigia polystachya

Polygonaceae

List IAP

Manual removal, light deprivation

Lagarosiphon major

Hydrocharitaceae

List IAP

Manual removal, mechanical removal, light deprivation

Ludwigia grandiflora

Onagraceae

A2 List

Manual removal, mechanical removal, substrate removal, light deprivation

Ludwigia peploides

Onagraceae

A2 List

Manual removal, mechanical removal, substrate removal, light deprivation

Lysichiton americanus

Araceae

List IAP

Manual removal

Myriophyllum aquaticum

Haloragaceae

List IAP

Manual removal, substrate removal, light deprivation, environmental management

Myriophyllum heterophyllum

Haloragaceae

A2 List

Manual removal, substrate removal, light deprivation

Petasites japonicus var. giganteus

Asteraceae


Manual removal

Pontederia cordata

Pontederiaceae 

Alert List

Manual removal, mechanical removal

Saururus cernuus

Saururaceae

Alert List

Manual removal, substrate removal

Zizania latifolia

Poaceae

List IAP

Manual removal, mechanical removal




Sources

Patinet M, Branquart E, Monty A (2023). Invasive alien aquatic and riparian plant species – Best management practice guide. LIFE RIPARIAS project, 188 pp. https://www.riparias.be/359/

Project website: https://www.riparias.be/