Council marks Invasive Species Week with free Invasive Species ID guides and training  

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is marking Invasive Species Week, an annual event bringing together a wide range of organisations to raise awareness of invasive non-native species, by offering free Identification guides and training to the community.  An invasive alien species (IAS) is any non-native animal or plant which can spread and cause damage to local biodiversity, the economy and health.

In connection with this awareness initiative, Cllr Diana Armstrong, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council remarked;

“The Council has been working hard behind the scenes controlling key IAS such as Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed across the Council’s property estate for many years, however it also leads on a very important IAS project, ‘Aliens on the Lough’ which is aimed at raising awareness and increased action for IAS locally.”

This project which is supported by the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership (LELP) through funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is one of 23 projects that will be facilitated by the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership programme to promote, protect and enhance the natural, built and cultural heritage of the Lough Erne region.

Elmarie Swanepoel, LELP Programme Manager stated “The Lough Erne region benefits from a magnificent and unique landscape, rich in biodiversity, it is essential that we all take steps to protect and enhance the natural heritage that surrounds us.  We are delighted to be working with FODC to take steps that will preserve the landscape and ensure that it can be enjoyed for future generations”

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and LELP are seeking expressions of interest from residents, landowners and farmers who would like to learn more about identifying and controlling IAS on their land and in their communities.  A suite of training sessions including guided walks, balsam bashes and in some cases accredited training will be on offer soon, so email your interest to biodiversity@fermanaghomagh.com with your name, a contact email address and what you are interested in.

We will be posting information this Invasive Species Week on key IAS to look out for and report but there are simple things that you can do to help prevent the spread of invasive non-native species:

• Keep any boats, clothing, footwear and equipment used in water free of invasive non-native species – remember to Check Clean Dry after use.
• Be Plant Wise and don’t let your pond or aquarium plants enter the wild.
• Take care of your pets, never release them or allow them to escape into the wild. It’s cruel and could harm other wildlife.
• Look out for Asian hornet and other alert species and record your sightings.
• If you see what you believe to be an invasive alien species please do not cut or disturb it, but report it on www2.habitas.org.uk/records/ISI.

There are a limited number of free Invasive Alien Species ID Swatch cards available at Gortrush and Killyvilly Depots which are also accessible online at www.fermanaghomagh.com/biodiversity.  A wealth of knowledge also awaits at www.invasivespeciesireland.com, www.lelp.org.uk and at www.nonnativespecies.org/