InvasiveInvasive SpeciesSpecies & & thethe WFD WFD

TheThe case case ofof ArundoArundo donaxdonax

Lisboa, June 1st 2007

Arielle Simmons

Cecília Simões

Eike Flebbe

Melissa Parker

ObjectivesObjectives

Political Strategies for Arundo Donax Removal

Identify approaches to improve stakeholder awareness of Arundo

Donax (canas)

Create technical and economical strategies for removing Arundo

Donax

Some species that grow in the Rio Real...Some species that grow in the Rio Real...

Arundo donax

Arundo plinii

Non-native species

Native Species

Non-native species

Grows with Arundo donax

Tall, bamboo-like member of the

grass family (Poaceae)

Average height 4-6 meters.

Can grow 10 cm a day.

Originated in Northern India,

Southern Nepal.

Spreads asexually through the

distribution of stem and root

propagules during flood events

The World Conservation Union

(IUCN) has nominated Arundo

Donax as one of the 100 worst

invaders in the world.

What is What is ArundoArundo donaxdonax??

Why Arundo should be removed?Why Arundo should be removed?

Rapid invader, rapid growth

Consumes large quantities of water

Very flammable

Occupies habitat of native species

Retains sediments and reduces channel

capacity

Increases water temperature through

reduced shade canopy and elevated

transpiration rates.

Destructive to in-stream and bank

infrastructure (i.e. Bridges)

Negatively impacts the biodiversity of

a river and it’s riparian corridor.

Why is Arundo a problem?Why is Arundo a problem?

I.

II.

III.

IV.

Why is Arundo a problem?Why is Arundo a problem?

I.

Cross Section I: An

infestation of Arundo

establishes on the narrow

levee banks. Close proximity

to high water and nutrient

resources stimulates and

increases Arundo growth, and

quickly compromises resource

availability (i.e. and ) for

surrounding plant

communities.

N & P

Study: Coffman, G. 2007

II.

Cross Section II: The shallow

rooting system of Arundo Donax

compromises bank stability and

increases bank undercutting.

Why is Arundo a problem?Why is Arundo a problem?

N & P

III.

Cross Section III: A high flow event destabilizes the levee,

scouring out Arundo and all surrounding plant life. Sediment and

H20 cover the surrounding farm land.

N & P

Why is Arundo a problem?Why is Arundo a problem?

Cross Section IV: Arundo

quickly re-establishes on the

newly rebuilt levee. The fast

growing Arundo shades out

and compromises resources

for the native riparian

regrowth.

IV.

N & P

Why is Arundo a problem?Why is Arundo a problem?

Where are aquatic invasives in Portugal?Where are aquatic invasives in Portugal?

Importance of the main aquatic invasive species in agrarian

regions of the country

AlgarveAlentejoRibatejo

e Oeste

Beira

LitoralBeira

Interior

Trás-os

-Montes

Entre-Douro

-e-Minho

0

20

40

60

80

100

Agrarian Regions

Exis

ten

ce o

f in

vasiv

e

sp

ecie

s (

%)

Municipalities

Agrarian Zone

Study:Vegetação dos Ecossistemas

Dulciaquícolas. Estimativa do risco

de infestações

Francisca Aguiar, 1996

Where is Where is ArundoArundo in the Rio Real basin? in the Rio Real basin?

~ 68,3 68,3 haha Arundo donax in

~ 57 km57 km of streams (Rio

Real and tributaries)

60% of the “public domain” floodplain is invaded by Arundo

Donax

Arundo donax

Where ISNWhere ISN’’T T ArundoArundo in the Rio Real basin? in the Rio Real basin?

Arundo and

Phragmites are

growing back!

2004

NOW!!!

Where ISNWhere ISN’’T T ArundoArundo in the Rio Real basin? in the Rio Real basin?

Very little Arundo, a

lot of Salix and Ash...

Possible reference

conditions for the

WFD “good

ecological status”

test?

2004

NOW!!!

Who is interested about invasive species?Who is interested about invasive species?

Study:Vegetação dos Ecossistemas

Dulciaquícolas. Estimativa do risco

de infestações

Francisca Aguiar, 1996

Existence of problems with aquatic invasive speciesPerception of the Surveyed Stakeholders

Irrigation

AssociationsForest ZonesAgrarian ZonesMunicipalities

0

20

40

60

80

100

Inquired entity

Rep

ly t

o t

he in

qu

irie

s (

%)

Relation between the invasive species (Arundo donax and Phragmites

australis) and the type of ecosystem

Perceptions of different Stakeholders

Other

ecosystems

Drainage channelsFreshw ater marshRivers0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Type of ecosystem

Exis

ten

ce o

f in

vasiv

e

sp

ecie

s (

%)

Municipalities

Agrarian Zones

Forest Zones

Irrigation Association

Results of a survey sent to some

entities who are responsible for

the use of the hydrological

resources and the territorial

management of aquatic

ecosystems

Ministério do Ambiente, do

Ordenamento do Território e do

Desenvolvimento Regional

[MAOTDR]

INAG ICNB

CCDR

Municipalities Executive law nº 565/99, December 21

Classify Arundo donax as invasive species invasive species

Regulates the introduction in nature of non-

native species

Involved entities and legal instrumentsInvolved entities and legal instruments

European Union

Executive law nº 46/94, February 22

Changed by Executive law nº 234/98,July 21

Establishes the obligation of clean and

unblock the streams

Law nº 58/2005, December 29

Water Law

Transposition of Directive nº 2000/60/CE, that

establishes the institutional bases for the

sustainable management of water.

Na

tio

na

lR

eg

ion

al

Objective WFD: “Good Ecological Status”

Hierarchy ofHierarchy of ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

EU

Portugal

Ministry of Environment

Ministry of Agriculture

INAG ICNB

CCDR

Municipalities

OwnerFarmers/Irrigation

Associations

NPO

(e.g. Real 21)

WFD WFD – application of Annex V

Application of lawsApplication of laws

FundsFunds

AwarenessAwareness

RecommendationsRecommendations

ApplicationApplication

RecommendationsRecommendations

Promote a better application of law;

Implement programs to supervise the application of laws, by

Municipalities, with permits and fines;

Use fines to finance the programs, contract employees, help

the local economy and improve the ecological status;

Inform the public, enforce land owner and farmers to reduce

Arundo in riparian ecosystems.

Arundo donax is a problem;

It has legislation;

It has techniques to remove Arundo

and recovery riparian ecosystems;

But... It’s also important change the cultural

perception of the problem.

Manual removal with hand tools

Mechanical removal by low

impact heavy equipment and

chipping of biomass

Excavation of rooting system

Covering areas cleared of Arundo

with heavy tarps to kill rooting

system

Reduce stimulation of Arundo

growth by planting trees increase

shading of infested areas

Monitoring and maintenance

How and where should we remove How and where should we remove Arundo donaxArundo donax??

Removal should be done after

spring in the early summer

Removal efforts should begin

upstream and continue downstream.

Protected regions and areas with

high endemic populations should be

closely monitored and targeted for

immediate Arundo donax removal.

Bank stabilization to avoid

erosion

Planting of Native plant species

How and where should we remove How and where should we remove Arundo donaxArundo donax??

Stabilization of the banks through

bio-engineering

Re-vegetation with Native plant

species

Bank stabilization efforts should

take place in winter and spring

What should be done after removing?What should be done after removing?

Riparian tree species

Salix sp.

Fraxinus angustifolia

Alnus glutinosa

Populus nigra

Ulmus minor

Riparian shrub species

Sambucus nigra

Cydonia oblonga

Crataegus monogyna

Tamarix africana

What should be done after removing?What should be done after removing?

Cost Estimate for Removal?Cost Estimate for Removal?

Manual removal - 5 a 10 /m2

Equipment removal - 2 a 5 /m2

Excavation of roots - 10 a 20 /m2

Tarp material & Labor - 5 a 10 /m2

Planting of edible plants: fruit trees and shrubs –

Sambucus nigra; Cydonia oblonga; Rosa canina;

Planting of medicinal and culinary herbs –

Crataeguys monogyna; Foeniculum vulgare;

Nasturtium officinale; Equisetum ramosissimum;

Geranium robertianum;

Use of native riparian plant communities for Carbon

sequestration

Recreational spaces

Animal habitats

Improved water quality

Recommendations of Land Uses in Riparian HabitatsRecommendations of Land Uses in Riparian Habitats

ConclusionsConclusions

Arundo removal and analysis should be included with the implementation ofthe WFD in Portugal. In particular, Arundo and other aquatic invasives shouldbe included in the ‘quality metrics’ tests used to define “good ecological status”in all Portuguese river.

Further research in Arundo is REQUIRED. Topics include: - Arundo removal using bioengineering soil/plantation techniques.

- Replacing Arundo donax as a windbreak/bankstabilization mechanism with a native plant species (possiblyArundo plinii? Maybe Salix.?)- Further investigation into biocontrol methods for removing Arundo.

- Investigate methods of increasing publicparticipation (especially farmers) in the

Arundo removal process.

Many Thanks to: UCB 229 Instructors (Matt, Stefan, Clara,

Juliette, Ted), Tom Dudley (UCSB), Gretchen Coffman

(UCLA), Noelle Johnson, Graça Saraiva, Rita Antunes, Our

hosts in Bombarral/Cadaval, Illidio Moreira, Teresa

Ferreira, Ana Monteiro, and ALL the LA 229 and

IST/ISA/Portuguese Students!!!