Take Spartina alterniflora as an Example to Talk About How to Treat Invasive Species | Zhou Talks Fourth Civilization(266)

Recently, Dr. ZHOU Jinfeng, Secretary General of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), conducted a field survey of mangrove forests, and deeply discussed the invasive alien species Spartina alterniflora and its relationship with mangroves.

His statement is summarized as follows:

1) Is Spartina alterniflora good? On the coast, on the wasteland, on the banks without mangroves, where there is a wasteland, they will grow in patches. They are effective in preventing dust and sand and soil erosion.

The migration of species is a natural phenomenon, and we should deal with it in a natural and effective way. Large-scale sabotage cannot be organized. What we want to study is resilience, restoration and ecosystem. Naturally, we should treat invasive alien species with the ideas, logic and concepts of the fourth civilization.

Even identified invasive alien species, such as Spartina alterniflora, should not be exterminated. It has its own ecological niche, has its growth space and role. We should give nature some space, and let nature adjust. Many species have an adaptation process to survive locally.

2) Spartina alterniflora is associated with mangrove forests. Some people say that mangroves and Spartina alterniflora are exactly the same ecological niche. If Spartina alterniflora is allowed to grow unchecked, it will threaten the survival of mangroves. In fact, when I was on site a while back, I found Spartina alterniflora and mangroves living in harmony.

As we all know, Spartina alterniflora is a plant that is extremely dependent on sunlight, it can not grow in mangroves, to compete with mangroves for nutrition, water and sunlight, but the larger mangroves are easy to block the sunlight of the smaller Spartina alterniflora. Spartina alterniflora can't grow where mangroves block the sun.

3) Some experts believe that in mangrove reserves, the goal is to protect mangroves and eliminate all other irrelevant species. This is a completely wrong view. In mangrove protected areas, mangroves as indicator species should of course be given priority attention and protection, but this does not mean that other species should not be allowed to survive. In fact, what we want to protect is nature, and the right approach is to minimize human intervention. Some Spartina alterniflora grows naturally in the mangrove clearings and is fine. Taken as a whole, they are an ecosystem.

In general, as for invasive species, if it does not affect our production and life, and will not have a negative impact on the ecological environment, we should let it naturally eliminate, evolve, and survive and develop naturally. This is what we often call the wilderness. This is the attitude we recommend for invasive alien species like Spartina alterniflora. In protected areas, the most important thing is "restoration" rather than artificial repairation.

Original Chinese Article:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/rvlKlZE5XYNWrqfi9FArUg

Translator: YJ

Checked By: Maggie

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776



Contribution

Do you know? CBCGDF is a non-profit organization. We rely on crowd-funding and donations. You have the opportunity to help us to advance biodiversity conservation. Donate TODAY to power up the movement to make it a better world for all life.

https://www.paypal.me/CBCGDFChina

http://www.cbcgdf.org/English/ConfirmDonaTion/0.html

【BAG】

1.Webpage:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=2EYYJJZ8CGPLE

2. via paypal

Donation（501C3）Paypal： intl@wbag.org

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The 2024 World Water Forum Opens in Indonesia's Bali

Image
The 2024 World Water Forum (10th WWF) under the theme of "Water for Shared Prosperity" officially opened on Indonesia's island of Bali on Monday. This year ’ s theme emphasizes the need to work together to promote efficient and integrated water resources management to common prosperity. The 10th WWF ’ s six subthemes are: Water Security and Prosperity; Water for Humans and Nature; Disaster Risk Reduction and Management; Governance, Cooperation and Hydro-diplomacy; Sustainable Water Finance; and Knowledge and Innovation. This year, the Forum is expected to host 350 sessions, and receive 100,000 participants and visitors, 56 ministers, 12 heads of state, and about 2,000 journalists. The 10th World Water Forum focuses on four topics, namely water conservation, clean water and sanitation, food and energy security, and mitigation of natural disasters. The 10th WWF   is jointly organized by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the World Water Council. The Forum is th...
Read more

Bridging Borders for Wildlife: John E. Scanlon AO Recognized with China's Highest Honor - Chinese Government Friendship Award

Image
Congratulations to our dear friend and best teacher, John E. Scanlon AO, for honored the remarkable achievement - The Chinese Government Friendship Award!   On September 27, 2023, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs) held a prestigious ceremony in Beijing to present the Chinese Government Friendship Award. The Chinese Government Friendship Award is China's highest honor bestowed upon foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to the country's modernization and reform and opening-up efforts. John E. Scanlon AO, an esteemed ecological conservation and sustainable development expert hailing from Australia (UK), received this distinguished award. His unwavering commitment and significant contributions to global wildlife conservation efforts, along with his deep friendship with people of China, earned him the Chinese Government Friendship Award. John E. Scanlon has dedicated his life to the protection of a...
Read more

Unveiling the Mysteries of Cetaceans in the South China Sea: Chinese Scientists Describe Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs)

Image
The world’s ocean ecosystems are facing mounting threats—climate change, marine pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction due to human activities, to name a few. These pressures are particularly dangerous for marine mammals like cetaceans, whose survival hinges on healthy habitats and stable populations. Yet, in regions like the South China Sea, where biodiversity is exceptionally high, little research has been done to understand the needs and habitats of cetaceans. This lack of data has left a gap in our knowledge and made it challenging to establish targeted conservation strategies. Recognizing this, Chinese scientists have now set out to fill these gaps and contribute essential data to inform future policy and management, aiming to protect these vulnerable species and support the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). In a landmark study published on October 8, 2024, in Biological Conservation, Dr. Li Songhai and his team from the Institute of...
Read more