home > press > 15 October 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The enormous cost to the construction industry of invasive plants and animals has increased dramatically in recent years and, apart from the cost, businesses face increasing environmental challenges.
A new book by CIRIA tackles this major problem. Invasive species management for infrastructure managers and the construction industry, due for publication mid-November tackles the issue of problem plants such as the notorious Japanese knotweed and Giant Hogweed.
The title also looks at the problems caused by animals and insects such as brown rats, pigeons, rabbits and deer, brown-tail moth and European hornets.
Less well known is the fact that our rivers are being increasingly populated by alien fish that are depleting our native stocks, such as Zander and Goldfish, which out-compete native species.
Business and industry need to respond to these challenges and this publication highlights the range of invasive species and the threats they pose. It also presents distribution maps to show where these invasive creatures have the greatest impact.
Readers will also learn of the extensive legislation and policy that regulates their management.
The management of any landholding begins with surveying and assessing the invasive species present or likely to invade into it. This information coupled with the definition of the aims of management, feeds into a risk assessment leading to management options for dealing with invasive species: suppression, eradication and prevention.
The book comes with a “sting in the tail” highlighting the species that could become tomorrow’s invaders, such as the European hornet and the Marsh frog, which already has a toe-hold in the south east.
This title is available from CIRIA at www.ciriabooks.com. For more information contact Chris Chiverrell at CIRIA on 020 7549 3300 or email: chris.chiverrell@ciria.org.
ENDS
For further press information email press@ciria.org or contact James Milne, CIRIA, Classic House, 174-180 Old Street, London EC1V 9BP
CIRIA is a member-owned organisation that works with the construction industry, government and academia to provide performance improvement products and services in the construction and related industries.
It was founded in 1960 and currently engages with around 500 subscribing organisations. Activities include collaborative projects, networking, publishing, workshops, seminars and conferences. About 40 projects are run at any one time, about 100 events are staged every year, and 20 books published per annum.