Oct 16/07

By STAFF WRITER, Nassau Guardian

More than 46 volunteers spent three hours on Orange Hill Beach last Monday uprooting an overabundance of invasive plants and planting native ones on a quarter-mile stretch during "No Invasive Species Week." The beach, which was overrun with invasive plants like scaevola, have been displacing native plants, suffocating local plants beneath.

Orange Hill Beach, which was previously restored by the National Coastal Awareness Committee in April 2006, recently had its sand dunes restored and native, coastal zone safe plants, such as seagrape, buttonwood and sea oats were planted. Most invasive species were removed earlier but others were left until the new plants took root.

Last week, student volunteers from C.V. Bethel's Marine Science Magnet Program and St. John's College filled over 80 trash bags with plants they removed.

The National Biodiversity Committee launched the "No Invasive Species Week" campaign, last week in an attempt to create awareness about these destructive plants and animals.

Before removing the plants, students were taken on a brief beach walk and were educated on the importance of, and threats to the dune, plant identification (both native and invasive) and the impact of the invasive plants.

Charlene Carey, Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) Environmental Educator says the spread of invasive alien species is creating complex challenges that threaten the country's beaches.

"When we remove the invasive plants, we find that there are native plants struggling underneath," she said. "A lot of people don't know that scaevola is an invasive plant. Bahamians plant them because they're beautiful and they grow really fast, but they're damaging plants. We're extremely pleased that the students are so interested in learning about these plants and are actually working with us to get rid of them."

Dorinda Smith, an 11th grader at C.V. Bethel High School said she had no idea that scaevola was an invasive plant.

"This is a big surprise to me. I love the beach and I go on so many and these plants are all that I see. They grow so rapidly and they don't look dangerous. I think that's where the problem lies," she said. "I decided to come out here today because I want to be a part of the solution. We love our beaches and we want to make sure that they are fully protected, so I'll put on my gloves and take up every one that I can."

Invasive species such as Monkey Tamarind and Casuarinas have also grown in abundance over the years and continue to threaten native species.

There are six major invasive plant species that can be seen throughout The Bahamas — Brazilian Pepper, Melaleuca, Casuarina, Scaevola (non-native), Wedelia, and Mucuna, commonly known as Monkey Tamarind.

Over 70 species are listed as invasive in The Bahamas. Invasive plants aggressively attack native plants by out-competing them for water and nutrients. Because native species are unable to adapt quickly enough to respond to aggressive invaders, they are eventually destroyed by the invasive species.

In order to combat invasive species, Bahamians are encouraged to plant native species in their yards and communities, remove any invasive plant species and replace them with native species, landscape only with native species, instead of exotics or invasives, do not import invasive species as pets and do not breed or feed invasive species.