Best Practice Knowledge Base

7.4 Control of invasive species

Invasive coypu in Colmar, France © Hernán Serrano-León

Invasive species can outcompete native flora and fauna, disrupt ecological processes, and alter habitat structures, leading to reduced resilience and increased vulnerability to environmental changes. Thus, their control is crucial to preserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem functions. Effective management of invasive species involves methods such as mechanical removal, chemical treatments, biological control, and ecological restoration techniques.

I. Guidelines

Nº	Title	Author	Year	Focus Region	Language	Summary	Link
1	Weed Control Methods Handbook	Tu et al.	2001	World	English	Tools & Techniques to control invasive weed species in Natural Areas	https://www.invasive.org/gist/products/handbook/methods-handbook.pdf
2	A Management Guide for Invasive Plants in Southern Forests	Miller et al.	2015	South United States	English	Guide for the management of invasive plants in forests	https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/gtr/gtr_srs131.pdf

II. Books or book chapters

Nº	Title	Author	Chapter	Chapter author	Year	Focus region	Language	Summary	Link
1	Foundations of Restoration Ecology	Palmer et al.	Invasive Species and Restoration Challenges	D'antonio et al.	2016	World	English	Focuses on invasive plants and the management options when restoring an ecosystem affected by invasive plants in any way	https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-698-1_8
2	Wildland Fire in Ecosystems: Fire and nonnative invasive plants	Zouhar et al.	-	-	2008	World, United States	English	Focuses on the effect of invasive plant species on wildfires, but also on the use of fire to control invasive plants in natural ecosystems	https://doi.org/10.2737/RMRS-GTR-42-V6
3	Invasive Species Management	Clout & Williams	-	-	2009	World	English	Strategies for managing invasive species, from prevention at the border to control of major infestations.	https://doi.org/10.1086/656850
4	Assessment and Management of Plant Invasions	Luken & Tieret	-	-	2012	World	English	Human perceptions of invading plants, assessment of ecological interactions, management options, and regulation	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1926-2
5	Invasive Plant Ecology and Management: Linking Processes to Practice	Sheley & Monaco	-	-	2012	World	English	Illustrates on key processes to reduce the impact of invasive plants on ecosystem processes, based on ecological principles	https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/book/10.1079/9781845938116.0000
6	Restoration of Ecosystems – Bridging Nature and Humans	Zerbe	Dealing with Non-native Species in Ecosystem Restoration	Zerbe	2023	World	English	Appraches to alien species management and examples of their control	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-65658-7_5
7	Integrative approaches as an opportunity for the conservation of forest biodiversity	Kraus & Krumm	4.3 Invasive neobiota in forest ecosystems: opportunity or threat?	Schoenenberger & Conedera	2013	Europe	English	Invasive neobiota, their perception by different stakeholders, and management options	https://research.edgehill.ac.uk/ws/files/20073515/InFocus-Integrate-complete-final.pdf

III. Scientific articles

Nº	Title	Author	Year	Focus region	Language	Type	Summary	Link
1	Cross-scale management strategies for optimal control of trees invading from source plantations	Caplat et al.	2013	World	English	Modelling approach	Model to study how to contain the spread of invading populations	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-013-0608-7
2	Vegetative growth response of black cherry (Prunus serotina) to different mechanical control methods in a biosphere reserve	Annighöfer et al.	2012	Europe	English	Observational study	Effectivity of different mechanical treatments on the control of the black cherry tree (Prunus serotina)	https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2012-0257
3	Strategies for the Management of Aggressive Invasive Plant Species	Lorenzo & Morais	2023	Europe	English	Narrative review	Strategies for the Management of Aggressive Invasive Plant Species	https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132482
4	Effectiveness of management strategies in Acacia dealbata Link invasion, native vegetation and soil microbial community responses	Souza-Alonso et al.	2013	Spain	English	Experiment	Effectivity of herbicide application after cutting in eliminating Acacia dealbata and its effects on soils	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.05.053
5	Management and control methods of invasive alien freshwater aquatic plants: A review	Hussner et al.	2017	World	English	Narrative review	Biological, mechanical and chemical management options for invasive alien aquatic plants	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2016.08.002
6	Managing an invasive tree in coastal dunes: The importance of follow-up treatments to improve the recovery of protected habitats	Neto Duarte et al.	2023	Portugal	English	Experiment	The importance of persistence of follow-up treatments in invasive plant control, especially with Acacia species	https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1113876
7	Using network connectivity to prioritise sites for the control of invasive species	Perry et al.	2016	World	English	Modelling approach	Network science application in the design of more effective control strategies of invasive species	https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12827
8	Opportunities for silviculture in management and restoration of forests affected by invasive species	Muzika	2017	World	English	Narrative review	How silvicultural tools can help when dealing with invasive species (with focus on pests and plants)	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1549-3
9	Controlling invasive plant species in ecological restoration: A global review	Weidlich et al.	2020	World	English	Narrative review	Global review on the control of "undesirable" plants (both exotic invasive and overabundant native) in ecological restoration	https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13656
10	Killing it Softly: Girdling as an Efficient Eco-friendly Method to Locally Remove Invasive Acer negundo	Merceron et al.	2016	France	English	Experiment	Testing the efficacy of 4 different methods to remove invasive Acer negundo	https://doi.org/10.3368/er.34.4.297