Invasive plant spreads across Portugal and lengthens allergy season

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Published: 2026-10-07T06:23:18.937Z • Permanent link

Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a renowned botanist at the University of Lisbon, has been tracking the spread of Cortaderia selloana, also known as pampas grass, across Portugal. According to her data, the invasive plant has been spreading rapidly since 2015, with a significant increase in sightings in the northern regions of the country. The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) has reported that the plant has already invaded over 100,000 hectares of land, threatening the country's biodiversity and ecosystem balance. The APA has launched an investigation into the matter, with the aim of halting the spread of the invasive species and mitigating its impact.

Local authorities in the Algarve region have been working closely with the APA to monitor the situation and develop strategies to control the spread of the plant. The regional government has implemented measures to prevent the sale and distribution of pampas grass, and has also launched a public awareness campaign to educate residents about the risks associated with the invasive species. Meanwhile, the Portuguese National Institute of Statistics (INE) has reported that the plant's spread has led to significant economic losses, with the value of damaged crops and lost agricultural productivity estimated at over €10 million in 2022 alone.

The European Union's (EU) Plant Protection Organisation (PPO) has also taken notice of the situation, with the EU's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) launching an investigation into the importation of pampas grass into EU member states. The FVO has warned that the plant poses a significant risk to EU biodiversity and ecosystem health, and has called for stricter controls on the importation and sale of invasive species.

The spread of pampas grass across Portugal has significant implications for the data sources used in the field of environmental monitoring and management. The plant's invasive nature means that it can outcompete native species for resources, leading to changes in ecosystem composition and function. This, in turn, can have cascading effects on data sources used to monitor ecosystem health, such as satellite imagery and sensor data. Companies that rely on these data sources, such as environmental consulting firms and government agencies, need to take steps to mitigate the impact of the invasive species on their data.

Research communities in the field of environmental science also need to be aware of the risks associated with pampas grass. Studies have shown that the plant's spread can have significant impacts on ecosystem services, such as pollination and pest control. As a result, researchers need to take steps to ensure that their studies are not compromised by the presence of invasive species. This may involve using alternative data sources or developing new methods for monitoring ecosystem health.

The spread of pampas grass across Portugal is not an isolated incident. Invasive species have been a major problem for many countries in recent years, with estimates suggesting that over 200 species of invasive plants are now present in the EU alone. The EU's Plant Protection Policy has been criticized for not doing enough to prevent the spread of invasive species, and there is growing pressure on the EU to develop more effective measures to control the spread of invasive species.