EXO BCN
Analysis of the invasion ability to natural environment of the most planted alien plants in the green areas in Barcelona
In 2010, CREAF conducted a risk analysis of the natural expansion of the more invasive ornamentals planted in parks and gardens in Barcelona, on behalf of the City of Barcelona.
The study was used to develop the methodology for analyzing the invasiveness of these species based on risk analysis protocols and a set of attributes collected from various literature sources. However, the study focused on a set of proven invasive species. Many of the remaining species can become invasive in the near future, especially if they are planted regularly. Consequently, the City Council considered of great importance to extend the work to the whole exotic species most planted in the gardens of Barcelona, in order to detect potentially problematic species and alternatives sought for planting.
The current work, therefore, is aimed at performing the protocols of Weed Risk Analysis (WRA) for a selection of the more exotic species planted in the gardens of Barcelona. With the help of technicians from the city of Barcelona a set of 150 species frequently planted in gardens and parks of Barcelona will be selected. For each of these species a set of attributes related to the biological invasion process will be recorded and used to carry out the WRA.
