the battle against the grass of the African fountain
Species introduced from foreign countries that escape freely into the wild, hinder or hinder the growth of native species, are called invasive alien species (IAS). For plants, the level of disturbance is generally categorized by the rate of their spread in a natural habitat, thus taking up space and nutrients from native species in a competitive manner. Therefore, the faster the spread, the more invasive and dangerous the alien species.
The most successful and notorious plant invader in the Maltese islands is the gracious Cape wood sorrel (is English). It was introduced in the early 19th century as a dozen or so plants found in the Argotti Gardens. Sorrel escaped and became the most common wild plant in Malta only after about 100 years. It can be found growing in many habitats on all islands, including Comino and Filfla, even if it does not form seeds. Propagation is by underground bulbs.
Despite its charismatic and fragile appearance, the Cape sorrel dominates hideously and covers vast areas of land, leaving almost no room for other local plants to germinate and grow. Its distribution is so vast and invasive that nothing can be done to control or destroy it.
However, if action had been taken in its early stages of spread, the Maltese countryside would likely have a more diverse plant community, including wild plants that are rare today, such as the pheasant’s eye (boiled the rooster) and crown anemone (blueberries).
Modernization has brought with it a drastic increase in travel, plant imports and an online plant purchasing facility, which has resulted in a rapid escalation of foreign plants entering and growing in our country, usually for ornamental or agricultural use. Inevitably, the risk of IAS entering natural ecosystems has also increased.
Indeed, the number of plants declared invasive species in the Maltese islands has increased from around 10 plants to some 40 species in the last 50 years. Of these plants, the species known as the African fountain grass or crimson (Pennisetum setaceum) is one of the IAS of EU concern. The European Commission obliges countries, including Malta, to control and eradicate such species through the implementing regulation of the commission 2017/1263.
The commission recently added two other IAS present in Malta: the lead tree (Leucana leucocephala) and blue-leafed acacia (Acacia saligna) in a subsequent update, CIR 2019/1262. These most invasive plants are illegal to import, sell, introduce or have in unclosed possession, that is, where their seeds can be spread in the wild.
It removes the grass of the African fountain in Gozo
In 2018, the Directorate of Eco-Gozo within the Ministry for Gozo started a project to control and possibly destroy the grass of the African fountain from Gozo. This plant forms elegant tussocks about a meter in diameter made up of many narrow arched leaves and numerous crimson-beige feathery blooms. Each plant produces thousands of seeds that can be dispersed by wind, water or ants.
During a survey conducted by the directorate and reports submitted by the public through the free mobile e-government application called myGozo, the fountain grass was registered in more than 60 sites in Gozo. The most localities where it was registered are Għajnsielem, Xagħra and Qala.
Interestingly it is barely found towards the eastern half of the island and it seems that the spread started from the eastern part and moved to the west. Plants have been found mostly in urban areas, especially along abandoned roads, paths, walls and construction sites, but have also been found in some public gardens or private terraces.
The public cooperated satisfactorily when he was approached to remove them from his gardens. The local councils of Munxar and Xaghra also helped to remove the fountain grass from public parks they manage.
In line with the ERA guidelines for the management of alien species, EcoGozo appeals to the public to replace this exotic grass from their gardens with non-invasive plants to reduce threats to local flora. More worrying is the presence of fountain grass in two natural sites: Ramla Valley (Xaghra) and Capuchin Valley (Victoria). These sites are monitored more frequently to ensure that spilled plants are removed promptly without further propagation into the respective valley systems.
“It is too early to expect full success for the seeds to remain dormant in the soil for several years”
In addition to the mapping, the directorate carried out several site visits, where plants were removed and disposed of at the KUS waste facility in Xewkija. The flowers are first carefully removed from the plants to prevent further seed spread. About 1,000 plants were removed from Gozo by hand. These sites are then monitored once to three times a year.
On some occasions, the plants reappeared after three years, suggesting that the seeds may remain dormant in the soil for a long period of time and persistent monitoring is essential to successfully control this invasive species. The results are very promising: an estimated 90 percent of the total population has been eradicated. Continuous ecological monitoring ensures that new compensations are removed before flowering and sowing.
Indeed, the fountain grass is usually not noticed when visiting Gozo, while the situation in mainland Malta is unfortunately different. This makes Gozo one of the few, if not the only, populated islands in the central Mediterranean region where this alien species of concern to the EU is successfully controlled. Determination, perseverance, monitoring, professional removal and prevention of reintroduction are the key factors for this success.
However, it is too early to claim full success for the seeds to remain dormant in the soil for several years. Some populations in private properties also need to be addressed. Monitoring and cooperation could, hopefully, lead to complete eradication in the next few years. Gozitan residents who have fountain grass in their gardens can contact EcoGozo to remove it free of charge.
Stephen Mifsud is a senior technologist in the medical and botanical laboratory in EcoGozo, who is managing the eradication of African mountain grass. The MyGozo app is available for download on the Google Play Store.
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