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<p>Between 2011 and March 2015, Defra provided grant aid to help set up and establish
29 local action groups throughout England to tackle invasive non-native species, including
Japanese knotweed. The establishment of these groups was intended to generate a self-sustaining
network to tackle these threats. The majority have managed to reduce or eradicate
Japanese knotweed from riparian areas and are continuing to do so.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, Defra has been funding research to make a biocontrol
agent available to control the plant and has identified the psyllid, <em>Aphalara
itadori</em>. Although it has not yet been possible to achieve self-sustaining populations
of the psyllid in the wild, a new release programme was undertaken this summer in
riparian areas, utilising local action groups to aid release.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>The recent provisions of Community Protection notices, provided for in the
Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, are also available for use by
local authorities to control or prevent the growth of Japanese knotweed where they
are satisfied that there is a case to do so.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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