What is the Ecological Impact of Cultivating Non-Native Species

Question

What is the actual ecological impact of growing non-indigenous species? Is it actually good for the planet to be growing mangoes, avocados, bananas, and dates in Italy where they do not naturally occur? Many of my ecologist/conservationist friends argue that it is damaging indigenous ecosystems to do so.

Key Takeaways

It’s a long-winded and contentious subject, but a good point to start is reading a book by Fred Pearce, The New Wild: Why Invasive Species Will Be Nature’s Salvation. Weeds and invasive species indicate to us that there is a problem in the local ecology, but they also show us that novel ecosystems are not a negative. We can’t have purist views in which places stay in botanical isolation. The melding and separating of ecosystems has occurred throughout time.

There have been issues on small islands because animals tend to speciate. For example, when islands with flightless birds suddenly get a predator, that’s a big problem. However, continents are usually too biodiverse and stable for this to be a huge problem. We have to have an open mind and not be swayed by sentimentality, something nature doesn’t have. It just looks for systems to become more abundant with no favorites.

For that matter, where do we start the endemic selection?

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Geoff is a world-renowned permaculture consultant, designer, and teacher that has established demonstration sites that function as education centers in all the world's major climates. Geoff has dedicated his life to spreading permaculture design across the globe and inspiring people to take care of the earth, each other, and to return the surplus.

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[TheWeedyGarden]

Just love how you have interesting answers for interesting questions. Thanks Geoff 💪🏻👍🏼🙏💚

[sluasidhe]

Here in the West of Ireland, Rhododendron, Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam have devastated the natural under-storey, and become a virtual monoculture, with natives like the Holly struggling to compete. Loss of diversity, especially to this level, worries me. Of course, generations of human interference is at the root of this, but it is also impossible to know what the impact will be in ecological time, which is a lot longer than any of our lifetimes. Tom Wessels makes an interesting point about young, ecological interactions versus established ones and how that can go very wrong, as in the near eradication of the American Chestnut due to a fungus imported on Oriental Chestnut. Overall, I feel it is unclear what the long-term implications might be, and probably a bit soon to make any assumption. Let’s see in a millenium or so.

[markus_selloi]

Ecologically there are some species like Ailanthus altissima can definitely destroy some of the many fragile ecosystems, which endanger some species in those systems. Where do we stop? We gotta start there for sure.

[scotts]

These elitist people used to be called native plant nazis years ago 😂

[satokomomo]

I think he is missing point. With extinction of flora and funa at crisis point, we need to think how we can co exist with indegenous land. We need to talk how minimum damage we would cause. He need to talk about how minimum damage he can cause with his agricultural system. Science proved indigenous plants in farm land help more production. Because the more land for indigenous flora and fauna.

[wildforestorganics]

Species that are endemic to the rainforests where Geoff lives have formed trillions of interactions over millions of years. In my view, allowing a few single species like camphor laurels and privet to dominate an area stops natural succession and results in an infinitely less diverse ecosystem. There is nothing wrong with using non-endemic species if they don't have a negative affect on the diversity of the ecosystem. Many non endemic plants may have a positive effect. Also, it is easier to establish natural forests by using invasive species as biomass, but they need to be pruned consistently to allow natural succession to occur.

[yLeprechaun]

Good Gravy!! The knowledge that emanates from this guy every time he opens his mouth is just astounding. I never tire of listening to him.

[pinkelephants]

There's the other side of the question. Which is best? Do you import the crops mentioned in the video's question or do you wherever possible, cultivate them in suitable climates closest to the point of consumption? I'd posit that the growing of avocados, dates etc in Italy is much better than importation from halfway around the world - so long as it's done in a thoughtful manner. You would eliminate most of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with long distance importation & to a degree, it may be possible to adjust/reduce packaging frequently used to maintain freshness, especially plastics.

[davidakerlund]

i disagree with this. invasives often lead to monocrop/monospecies in where something like goldfish outdo and kill every species in a lake because some idiot released them after not understanding how too care for them
if humans create a problem its humans responsibility to fix it

[pinkelephants]

Geoff's point about speciation is well taken. For those who feel strongly about invasive species & have strong preferences for indigenous flora, when restoring ecosystems & their soils, there's no reason to my mind why you can't start off with the non-indigenous species to get the ball rolling & once everything is ticking along nicely, begin reintroduction of native species with the view to the eventual weeding out of the non natives.
I'm taking my cue from what Geoff, Nadia and Co. did in Jordan, beginning with that horrendously spiny tree/palm thingamabob because nothing else would grow in such challenging conditions, but eventually getting rid of it altogether as things progressed - the pioneer species; see Geoff, I was paying attention.😁😋

[jtktomb]

Due to human impacts, It's happening too fast for evolution to create stable ecosystems. That is the issue.

[ryanlove]

I try to tell people that all the time! The same energy people put into destruction they can put into creation. It all comes down to a personal choice. You're the man Geoff! Continuing to inspire me and blow my mind with your wisdom and insight. Thank you!

[ThreeRunHomer]

Catastrophes haven’t been just on islands. Many native species of trees in North America have been decimated by imported disease and pests. And importantly, native bugs won’t eat nonnative plants. Populations of native bugs and birds are dropping rapidly because of the removal of native plants.

[lewissmart]

My contention is that without so many cats around the Northern Rivers Geoff, we'd see more quolls. I've never seen one, though I see wild cats all the time..
I think that ferals are here to stay, we can't eradicate them, but its our job to act as resistance and slow their introduction as much as possible to ease the transition into a novel ecosystem. Especially in a fragile place like Australia.

[eliseotassara]

Im a biologist but i dont have a very good English, sorry. I appreciate you Geoff, but everything you say on this video sounds like you think you can control nature. Native ecosystems are so vast and complex that we cant pretend to improve them. Of course we need to eat and we have to cultivate that food as eco-friendly as we can, but we must not try to change
deliberately the ancient ecosystems just for our beliefs, justifying ourselves saying "Nature changes, Darwin said it", simply because we yet dont understand (and probably never will) everything about nature. Though that planted food forest might be a good environment for lots of species, and a one of the best ways of culvitating food, it cant replace the millions of years of co-evolution of the different native species. Lots of introduced species are causing a massive loss of biodiversity, and all the problems that go along with that, including the contribution to the appearence of new diseases like Covid-19.

[iteerrex]

And, nature doesn't care if someone is shooting a video lol

[ecocentrichomestead]

Thing is, if you garden, you are cultivating non indigenous species.

[coreynweiss]

Thanks for well thought out response Geoff! I see no issues growing non native citrus in Canada, but What about invasive species such as zebra mussels that decimate lake ecology? What about knapweed that outcompetes native grasses and reduces animal forage? I worry about these noxious plants, but godspeed to all of the aggressive mint plants and strawberries in the yard!!

[peterellis]

Birds migrate thousands of miles, transporting life in both directions. "Native" identification always relies on an arbitrarily chosen snapshot in time and declaring that moment is the baseline. But as you said, the constant is change.

[antoniodossantos]

Greetings from Colombia/El inmigrante venezolano escritor/writer 🌎