An Taisce, The National Trust for Ireland, has published the latest educational booklet in their highly successful Nature’s Way series. Entitled ‘Nature’s Way – Invasive Species’, the 16 page booklet deals with the threat of invasive species and addresses some of the challenges associated with them. The booklet is charming and accessible, with vibrant illustrations featuring many of Ireland’s invasive species, as well as clear and engaging text explaining the issues.
The booklet highlights the very real threat posed by invasive species in Ireland, and suggests positive actions the public can take as well as encouraging further exploration of the subject. The cartoons and illustrations, which are entertaining as well as informative, help to make the booklet an ideal educational tool, complementing An Taisce’s Green Schools programme. An Taisce hopes that the booklet will encourage further public engagement with this vital subject.
The topics covered include:
* How invasive species got to Ireland
* Ecological and economic impacts
* Established threats
* Potential threats
* What you can do.
There are many simple steps people can take to help tackle the threat of invasive species. Some advice includes: try and choose native Irish plants over alien species and don’t be afraid to inquire whether plants on display are native. If you discover that a plant you have bought is actually an invasive species, follow good practice advice to dispose of it in the correct way. Management tips can be found on the Invasive Species Ireland website. If work, fishing, or other leisure pursuits see you travel between watercourses, best practice is to clean and dry your wellington boots and other equipment in order to minimise the spread of invasive species.
Earlier editions of Nature’s Way have covered topics as diverse as: ‘Biodiversity and Ecosystems inIreland’; ‘The Wonder of Peatlands’; and ‘Pollinators in Ireland’.