China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published its annual report on Chinese ecology and the environment on June 2, saying China has discovered more than 660 exotic invasive species.
Ma Fangzhou, a researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences under the MEE, told the Global Times that plants accounted for over half of the 660 species, and animals for one-third. The rest are fungi, prokaryotes - which include single-cell organisms like bacteria - and protists, which include amoebas, slime molds and algae.
Some entered China by accident, some intentionally, such as for appreciation or medical use. The common cordgrass, for example, was introduced in China for its resistance to wind, but the plant was later found to be harmful to the local ecology due to its super-fast spread and reproduction,
The MEE report states that China has listed 71 exotic species which have harmed or pose a threat to the nation’s ecology. Ma said the MEE is working hard with other departments to promote the Biosecurity Act, which will delineate who has responsibility for managing the threat from invasive species and ensure that the new act is well-implemented.
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