Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana), an invasive plant native to Argentina and Chile, is present in 208 of Portugal's 278 municipalities and is considered one of the ten most widespread invasive species in Portugal, warn specialists. Although listed on the National Invasive Species List since 2019, the plant continues to advance rapidly, occupying everything from road verges to natural habitats such as dunes and estuaries. In full flowering season, each female plant produces millions of wind-dispersed seeds, making intervention urgent especially in inland areas where the invasive species is still poorly present. A researcher from the Coimbra School of Agriculture calls for coordinated national action, including the publication of an Action Plan that has been pending since 2023, and recommends that each citizen pull up plants by the roots, remove the plumes to prevent seed dispersal, and record observations on the iNaturalist app.
Wilder15/09/26, 14:21