Invasive species in New Zealand

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A number of introduced species, some of which have become invasive species, have been added to New Zealand's native flora and fauna. Both deliberate and accidental introductions have been made from the time of the first human settlement, with several waves of Polynesian [1] people at some time before the year 1300, [2] followed by Europeans after 1769. [3]

Contents

Almost without exception, [4] [5] the introduced species have been detrimental to the native flora and fauna, but some, such as farmed sheep and cows and the clover upon which they feed, now form a large part of the economy of New Zealand. Biosecurity New Zealand maintains registers and lists of species that are invasive, potentially invasive, or a threat to agriculture or biodiversity. [6] They also manage a small number of species under the National Interest Pest Responses (NIPR) programme. The rainbow lorikeet is the one animal that has been covered by the NIPR, and was eradicated in 2014. All the other species covered by the NIPR, past or present, are weeds. [7]

Clematis vitalba (old man's beard) smothering a cabbage tree (Cordyline australis) in the Port Hills of Christchurch Clematis vitalba smothering a Cordyline australis.jpg
Clematis vitalba (old man's beard) smothering a cabbage tree ( Cordyline australis ) in the Port Hills of Christchurch

Animal species

Many invasive animal species are listed in schedules 5 and 6 of the Wildlife Act 1953. Those in Schedule 5 have no protection and may be killed. Those in Schedule 6 are declared to be noxious animals and subject to the Wild Animal Control Act 1977. In 2016 the New Zealand government introduced Predator Free 2050, a project to eliminate all non-native predators (such as rats, possums and stoats) by 2050. [8]

Some of the invasive animal species are as follows.

Plant and other non-animal species

The National Pest Plant Accord, with a listing of about 120 genus, species, hybrids and subspecies, was developed to limit the spread of plant pests. Invasive plants are classified as such on a regional basis with some plants declared as national plant pests. Biosecurity New Zealand manages a small number of weeds under the National Interest Pest Responses programme. As of May 2024, NIPR covers nine weeds. Hornwort ( Ceratophyllum demersum ) was covered until it was eradicated in 2014. [7] Additionally, the Department of Conservation lists 328 vascular plant species as environmental weeds. [29]

Some of the better-known invasive plant species are:

Auckland has been declared to be the weediest city in the world. [33]

See also

Animals in New Zealand

Plants in New Zealand

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References

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