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<p>The Government recognises the threats posed by invasive species, including Japanese
knotweed, and has a comprehensive Great Britain Non-native Species Strategy designed
to co-ordinate action to tackle these threats. Defra funds biocontrol research to
tackle Japanese knotweed. It is hoped that this will provide a cost and time effective
way of managing this species. This research has identified the psyllid <em>Aphalari
itadori,</em> (a sap-sucking insect), as a biological control agent for tackling Japanese Knotweed.
Information about the research can be found on <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.invasive-species.org%2Fspecies%2Fjapanese-knotweed%2F&data=05%7C01%7CCaitlin.Drysdale%40defra.gov.uk%7Cbba109f94c5c48472da708da707ec566%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637945987017485353%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=aeXJnknvpjifW4%2B64fu%2FboPH9Bs%2BviasJto8cEGnHvY%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">the Japanese Knotweed Alliance website.</a></p><p> </p><p>Local Action
Groups, with support from Government, are actively involved in reducing and eradicating
Japanese knotweed.</p><p> </p><p>Japanese knotweed is listed on Schedule 9 of the
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to allow the plant to
escape or cause it to grow in the wild. The Government has developed guidance on how
to prevent the spread of Japanese knotweed and other harmful weeds, as well as how
to treat and dispose of them, which can be found on GOV.UK:</p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fprevent-the-spread-of-harmful-invasive-and-non-native-plants&data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7Ca00853eea1a34e2b487d08da9cbb0b73%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637994624408567816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=qKl2BqFtBW8CJhZmnQkeAh9enYmLhEGEL7QhvPQ4ivA%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">How to stop invasive non-native plants from spreading - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p><p>
</p><p>The Government also run awareness raising campaigns such as ‘Be Plant Wise’
and Invasive Species Week, as well as providing species information and online training
materials on biosecurity on the <a href="https://www.nonnativespecies.org/home/index.cfm"
target="_blank">GB NNSS website</a>.</p>
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