Invasive plant species are a risk to biodiversity and the survival of native species, which is why it is important to keep their spread under control with the right equipment.
What are invasive species and how do they spread
When we speak of invasive vegetation, we refer to those plant species that come into contact with an environment other than the one in which they originated and, in some way (through involuntary transport by humans, atmospheric agents such as water flows, wind and rain, etc etc), spread in it. There are many ways of diffusion: on the short range, invasive plants spread more close to areas cultivated or treated by man, such as arable land, nurseries, botanical gardens, parks and gardens. It is no coincidence that invasive plants are in fact more present in agricultural systems and cities; on the long range, on the other hand, they spread along the banks of canals and along watercourses, but also along the edges of roads and railways.
Although this phenomenon may appear to be a positive event, it actually jeopardizes the survival of biodiversity and native species of an ecosystem.
Why invasive vegetation species need to be managed
When a different plant species enters a new ecosystem, a phenomenon occurs that can be defined as a substitute for the indigenous species: the former propagate, while they compete with the latter, dangerously increasing the possibility of eliminating them.
But that’s not all: another, indirect, danger concerns the modification of the chemical or physical characteristics of the soil relating to the alteration of the cycle of nutrients which modify, even irreversibly, the composition and functioning of the invaded communities.
For these reasons, the invasion of alien species should not be underestimated: it is considered one of the major environmental challenges of the new millennium (Seebens et al. 2017; Pyšek et al. 2020, Clements et al. 2022).
The management techniques of invasive plant species aim at their containment or definitive eradication.
The choice of one technique over another is mainly based on the type of invasive species, so that the management intervention does not encourage the expansion of other invasive species located nearby, on the habitat in which to intervene not compromise its fundamental characteristics and therefore to favor its conservation and on the fauna that lives in that habitat, so that it is disturbed as little as possible.
Management techniques for invasive plant species
The invasive species management method can also make use of the use of several techniques simultaneously, for multiple reasons.
Integrating mechanical, chemical and biological control techniques, for example, helps reduce costs and health risks for experts and native plants.
- Chemical eradication: it is the control technique of invasive plants which involves the use of herbicides based on chemical compounds. Despite being an advantageous technique because it is rapid, the use of synthetic chemical herbicides is heavily regulated because it can have a significant impact on ecosystems and human health and an inappropriate application could even damage non-target plant species.
- Mechanical eradication: it consists in the removal of the parts of the plant that favor the spread of the plant itself and can take place either manually or by means of specific equipment. The removal of invasive species with the mechanical method must only be carried out by expert and authorized personnel, both to minimize damage to the indigenous vegetation and to minimize movement and soil erosion, especially when operating in environments vulnerable or protected.
Equipment for the management of invasive vegetation species
When it is decided to implement a strategy for the mechanical eradication of an invasive plant, the equipment is a powerful ally to proceed operationally on the objective in a rapid and targeted way.
Depending on the size of the area to be treated and the species to be eradicated, relying on excavators, bulldozers and backhoe loaders turns out to be a winning choice to contain the spread of invasive plant species.
These means can be supplemented with accessories that allow for increased precision and practicality of operations. These hydraulic accessories make it possible to reduce consumption and maintenance interventions to a minimum, while increasing safety.
Among the accessories useful for managing non-native plant species, we recommend:
- bucket: a modified bucket, with elongated teeth, makes traction of plant biomass more effective
- mulcher: accessory that favors the process of grinding trees and brushing making the material finer for rapid decomposition
– grapple: perfect for grabbing and moving material from one point to another with ease
To find out which attachments can be useful to you, contact us or visit our website.