France to take action against Asian hornets and other invasive insects
A new 10-year plan will prioritise combating the spread of problematic species so as to protect native biodiversity and prevent disease
The plan will target invasive species, including the Asian hornet, which has spread across France in recent years
Eduardo Dzophoto / Shutterstock
France has launched a plan to combat the threat to biodiversity caused by invasive insects, animals and plants which have been brought in by human activity and which are difficult to eradicate once present.
The aim is to stop them threatening native species and leading to diseases.
Examples include the Asian hornet (frelon asiatique), which has become more prevalent and problematic across France in recent years.
There were also sightings of the Oriental hornet (different to the Asian hornet) for the first time in France recently.
Read more:Bee-eating oriental hornet discovered in Marseille, a first in France
Biodiversity minister Bérangère Abba this week (March 15) presented a national plan to combat these insects for the period 2022-2030, via an ecology ministry statement.
The plan is set to focus on “prevention and early action”, it said, by raising awareness of invasive species, increasing checks on incoming goods, and improving best practices on how to prevent these species from proliferating, including “the proper application of legal and regulatory rules”.
It said: “In France, this threat is particularly strong on islands, and in overseas territories,” and has been made worse by climate change.
It comes as a 2019 report from the United Nations on biodiversity classed invasive insects as one of the five most destructive forces against nature, just behind poor ground use, exploitation of resources, climate change and pollution.
The ministry is set to allocate €1.5million in the plan’s first year, to help finance a framework to combat the spread of problematic species.
A decree will be established for consultations "on restrictions on the trade, possession and transport of species such as the blue crab, crassula helmsii, the quagga mussel and the Asian hornet", it said.
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