The LLNH-3 Invasive Non-Native Species Defend the Levels from ‘Alien Invasion’ Project is a proactive project designed to protect the Gwent Levels landscape from invasive non-native species - an issue that globally is considered one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. Due to the interconnected nature of the Gwent Levels drainage system, it is particularly vulnerable to INNS. The key to protecting the Gwent Levels is preventing INNS from establishing: ‘Defend the Catchment’.
Once colonisation occurs control becomes costly, time consuming and is often unsuccessful. The INNS project will for the first time in this landscape, create a partnership approach to increase INNS awareness and build capacity to better monitor, record and manage to prevent or stop the spread of INNS. The INNS project focuses on awareness and prevention, enabling others to report and if appropriate, treat INNS correctly, and ensuring that those with a responsibility for INNS work together better and share best practice. As a result of this project, key partners and stakeholders will have a clear picture of where INNS are present; records will be linked to existing Local Record Centre GIS mapping and available to all. Treatment will be better coordinated between partners at INNS priority locations to stop further spread. The core focus will be on the sources of INNS (boundary) and on Nature Reserves. Public awareness of the threat and how to report threats will also be increased. Contact Nick for more information on what you can do to help combat the Alien Invasions!
Below is an image from one of our INNS awareness-raising activities that was running this summer 2018. The ‘gazebo of doom’, is an interactive pop-up tent which introduces people to some of the more common species to look out for on the Levels! Next year we’ll be running a series of similar activities including bioblitz recording events at a range of our partner-managed sites. These events will be looking to record a host of different species around the site, including INNS, to help with data capture and future management strategies. Training will be provided. See our events calendar for details!
