A unique partnership led by Cornwall County Council has been set up to carry out a ground breaking research project which aims to identify natural methods of controlling Japanese Knotweed.
Japanese Knotweed is a major problem across Cornwall and Wales, with many areas choked by the invasive plant. Capable of growing from tiny fragments, the plant smothers habitats and threatens wildlife, and is also a major problem on brown field development sites where it can cost in excess of £ 100,000 a hectare to clear. A recent Defra review of non-native species policy stated that a conservative estimate for knotweed control within the UK would be £ 1.56 billion.
Current control methods include spraying with herbicides which can damage the natural environment and often fail to completely destroy the plants. Now a new Partnership, involving Cornwall County Council, the South West of England Regional Development Agency, the Welsh Development Agency, British Waterways, the Environment Agency, Network Rail and Defra is setting up an £ 1/2 million research project to investigate other ways of dealing with the problem.
“Cornwall and Wales have particular problems with Japanese knotweed, with riverbanks, canals, waterways, road verges, railway embankments, sites of high heritage value and potential development sites all affected ” said Helen Richards, the Executive Member for Environment and Heritage.
The first phase of the project involved a feasibility study into natural control, also known as biological control, including a brief field assessment in Japan. Cornwall County Council has now awarded a four year research contract to CAB International (CABI) Bioscience division to take the project forward.
CABI, the leading partner in the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP), is one of the world’s foremost non-profit research and project management enterprises and recognised international experts in the biological control of non-native species.
“Using the natural enemies of invasive weeds, like fungi or insects, to control them is a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to chemical or mechanical methods and has been used with great success in other countries” said CABI Bioscience weed bio-control specialist Dick Shaw. “However this is the first major project to research the potential for the biological control of Japanese knotweed to be carried out anywhere in the world.”
The innovative project will involve studying the plant in its native habitat in Japan to determine whether there are any natural control agents that could be suitable for managing Japanese knotweed in the UK.
“The first phase of the project confirmed that Japanese Knotweed is probably the best target for this natural approach in the UK,” said Dick Shaw. “Many insects and fungi were observed attacking the plant in its native habitat in Japan and the next phase will involve more detailed survey work with Japanese collaboration and a full technical research assessment to ensure that any agent is specific to knotweed.
“The use of natural enemies for controlling invasive species is an option that cannot be ignored and we are very pleased to be working on this project. We now have a chance to determine whether nature can play a role in the control of Japanese knotweed in the UK.”
The partnership project will be led by the County Council’s Natural Environment Team, part of the Environment and Heritage Service. “Cornwall is already leading the way in looking at new methods of controlling the plant, with the work of the Cornwall Knotweed Forum, set up in 1997 to provide guidance and information on policy and control methods, now an internationally recognised example of Best Practice in the control of invasive, non-native species” said Scott Sharples, the County Council’s Environment Programme Development Officer.
“The County Council currently spend £ 250,000 per year controlling the problem and we hope that this new research will help identify sustainable methods to manage this plant and lead to significant reductions in the use of chemicals.
Trevor Renals, from the Environment Agency, said “The initial phase of this research has yielded very promising results. Scientists have already identified a beetle and a rust fungus that appears to be specific to knotweed.”
“This four-year study will ensure that any natural control organisms are completely specific to knotweed and pose no threat to crops or our native biodiversity. If the research is successful, Government permission would need to be obtained prior to release.”
Welsh Development Agency Environment Manager Alison Smith said the results of the project could have a significant impact on the control of Japanese Knotweed in the UK.
“Current methods of control are unsustainable and ineffective so it is vitally important we look at alternative technologies for dealing with the problem. “said Alison .
“The WDA has been involved in researching the problem for over 12 years, and even with herbicide programmes, it is predicted that knotweed will cover some 800 hectares of Wales within eight years. The cost of treatment is estimated to escalate to more than £ 76 million by 2010”.
The project also follows years of investment by the South West Regional Development Agency on control projects using conventional chemical methods. Carol Wilson from the Agency said “Knotweed has caused problems on many of the Agency’s development sites across the region. The RDA is pleased to be involved in this innovative research project to identify a more sustainable long-term solution”.
Further information is available from:
JOE BURGOYNE – MISTRAL – 01865 885042
STEVE CRUMMAY CORNWALL COUNTY COUNCIL – 01872 322647
SCOTT SHARPLES, CORNWALL COUNTY COUNCIL – 01872 322660
ZOE ARMITAGE – CABI BIOSCIENCE – 01491 829014
