Project to tackle invasive species

The University of Cumbria is to provide a masters student to work with the South Cumbria Rivers Trust to help research the different pathways that invasive non-native species (INNS) enter our rivers.

INNS’s can cause significant problems to the environment and economy.

Bekka Corrie-Close, team manager and Cumbria freshwater invasive non-native species officer at the South Cumbria River Trust said: “INNS’s can hitch a ride on equipment, animals, shoes, anything really.

“It only requires 1cm of a plant to be picked up for it to have a substantial affect.

“Most of these species are carried through human movement and once established they are very difficult to get rid of causing a massive ecological and economical problem.

“The INNS Floating Pennywort for example can grow 20cm in a single day, blocking drainage, breaking boat motors and killing other plants by preventing light from getting to them.

“This particular project will be researched based and will focus on the pathways that lead to INNS’s being introduced into our rivers.

“We will also be working with local businesses and events to find ways that we can prevent their introduction.

“Things such as a cleaning station at a triathlon in Windermere can sometimes be enough to prevent them getting into the water.

“Here competitors would make sure their kit was fully washed and cleaned before competing.

“We will also be researching people’s current awareness of invasive species and all of our work will be covering the whole of Cumbria.

Glynn Griffiths, senior project officer of the Eco-Innovation Cumbria Project said: “This scheme is one part of a much larger one helping to improve the local ecology.

“We will also be looking at ways to reduce CO2 emissions and providing support to small to medium sized businesses on the ways they can personally reduce their own carbon footprint.

“Many of the schemes are on the horizon and will no doubt have a positive impact on our local ecological future.”