This plan covers the period 2022-2030, indicates the Ministry of Ecological Transition in a press release.
"In France, this threat is particularly strong in the overseas islands" and is increasing with climate change, continues the ministry.
These animal and plant species, introduced by humans outside their usual environment, threaten biodiversity, can carry pathogens and are difficult to eradicate once established.
This is the case of the nutria, the Asian hornet, the creeping water primrose, or even the collared dove in Guadeloupe and the butterfly vine in Reunion.
The government plan relies on “prevention and upstream action”, by raising awareness among individuals and structures with invasive alien species, with the development of practical guides on these species, strengthening controls and ensuring “ the proper application of laws and regulations".
An exceptional program of 500 "punch" operations will be set up from 2022 to 2025. It will be endowed with 1.5 million euros the first year from the ministry to fight against species likely to settle.
As part of the National Biodiversity Strategy (SNB), the program will be endowed "with an additional 500,000 euros", specifies the press release.
A decree will be put out for consultation "in order to impose restrictions on the trade, possession and transport of species such as the blue crab, the Helms crassule, the Quagga mussel or the oriental hornet", specifies the ministry.
A French fisherman holds in his hands an Atlantic blue crab, an invasive species, caught off Canet-en-Roussillon, in the Pyrénées-Orientales, on August 18, 2021 RAYMOND ROIG AFP / Archives
The 2019 UN Expert Report on Biodiversity (IPBES) ranks invasive alien species among the top five culprits of nature destruction, behind land use, direct resource exploitation, climate change and pollution.
© 2022 AFP