Call for cherry laurel sales ban over biodiversity concerns
The government is being urged to commit to a clear timeline for phasing out and banning the sale of cherry laurel.
The call from the Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) and Gaelic Woodland Project comes as a risk assessment found the non-native plant is a "significant driver of biodiversity loss" in this country.
The assessment, produced by the National Biodiversity Data Centre at the request of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), is currently open for public consultation.
Cherry laurel
Cherry laurel was introduced here in the 17th century to provide shelter and cover for game in estates.
Today, the vigorous and resilient evergreen shrub or tree is established across the country and is spreading rapidly.
Cherry laurel damages native woodlands and hedgerows through competition and shading other plants and soil alteration.
It has a major impact on nationally and internationally protected Irish species, such as the Killarney fern.
The plant also can present a challenge for commercial forestry, the ecological integrity of woodlands and native tree regeneration.
It also poses a possible poisoning risk to humans and animals as the plant's leaves, fruit stones and seeds are toxic.
According to the risk assessment, the economic impacts of cherry laurel is "likely significant and comparable to rhododendron control costs".
While available data is limited, control costs can exceed €10,000/ha over many years.
Ban
Nature advocacy officer at Irish Wildlife Trust, Oisín Ó Néill said the report provides "total clarity" on the impact of cherry laurel.
"It is suffocating our native woodlands, outcompeting native flora and putting immense pressure on fragile ecosystems across Ireland.
"Anything short of a full ban on the sale of cherry laurel is irresponsible governance in the midst of a biodiversity crisis," he said.
The Gaelic Woodland Project has spent over six years facilitating volunteer removal efforts.
"We have met hundreds of people giving their weekends to tackling local cherry laurel infestations," Eoghan Connaughton, project founder and ecologist, said.
"This report from the NBDC confirms the national situation is actually worse than we thought.
"This has been an under-appreciated ecological crisis and a serious threat to our native woodlands.
"We hope the minister will heed the warning of this report and honour the efforts of communities by prohibiting the sale of cherry laurel."
Public consultation
Minister of State for nature and biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan has encouraged people to share their views on the risk assessement before 5:00p.m on Thursday, September 17.
"The ecological threat of cherry laurels is well documented.
"It’s an invasive species, but it’s still widely available in garden centres and it’s traded right across Ireland.
"Because of its dense growth it out competes native vegetation and reduces the natural growth on the forest floor," he said.
The minister said that in his view the plant should be included on the list of "species of national concern".
This would pave the way for a ban on the sale of cherry laurel in garden centres and through the horticultural trade.
The plant is already banned for sale in Switzerland, and is on watch lists in Belgium and Slovenia.
