Download Alien Invasive Species - Ministry of Environment, Lands and

Ministry of Environment, Lands and
Agriculture Development
ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION
DIVISION
Alien Invasive Species
indigenous creeping and herbal plants
including grasses and sedges that have
important places in our culture. Most
indigenous plant species have significant
ecological services and uses in traditional
herbal medicine that play significant roles in
traditional health care for many people in
Kiribati). These indigenous species provide
food, habitats, dispersal mechanisms and
predation pressure for other species growing
in Kiribati. These ecological roles, services
and uses in our traditional culture are likely to
disappear if wedelia are left on their own to
grow freely in our environment
Infected areas around the Pacific
Wedelia/ trailing daisy, Wedelia trilobata
Brief History
Wedelia or trailing daisy (scientific name:
Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc) is an invasive
species that is not native to all Pacific Island
countries. This species is native to the
Caribbean Islands, which is brought to the Fiji
Islands as a ground cover. It is an introduced
species that has no native competitor, hence is
aggressive when escaped and become
established in the wild environment. Most
importantly, there is also limited literature and
research on this particular species, hence
scientific knowledge is very limited. This
species has been confirmed to be poisonous
to both people and animals and people are
urged to take precautions when handling
wedelia.
Species significance to biological diversity
Some of the Pacific countries that have been
already infected by this particular species are
Fiji, Niue and Kiribati. Because it is an
introduced species (exotic species), wedelia, at
this stage, has no local name in Kiribati. The
species has been confirmed to exist in
Butaritari by staff and team of the National
Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Project
(NBSAP), based at the Environment and
Conservation Division (ECD), Ministry of
Environment and Social Development. This
particular species has been confirmed also to
exist in the capital island of South Tarawa and
has been escaped to the wild around Bonriki
airport. The area infected has been eradicated
by Youths of different denominations in
South Tarawa who work voluntarily with staff
of ECD and is currently under continual
surveillance by concerned the staff.
Unfortunately, wedelia has been introduced to
Nawerewere hospital compound (around the
Pharmacy and Operations Theatre
departments) as a ground cover. The same
species has been confirmed to establish
around the catholic compound area (convent)
at Teaoraereke.
Despite it uses as good ground cover species,
wedelia still has the potential to destroy our
limited indigenous flora species, hence
dangerous when escaped to the wild
environment. If not controlled or managed
properly, wedelia are likely to dominate our
surrounding environment but most
importantly, they would outgrown other
1


(Youths from different churches involved in
the Wedelia eradication programme during
the annual ‘International Day for Biological
Diversity’).

What we could do to help eradicate
Wedelia?

It is best to eradicate this species
manually in the wild environment.
Early detection and report of wedelia
seen around the capital island is
encouraged and most welcome.
Do not throw or disregard wedelia
once uprooted. Keep them in piles in
a clear space, away from other
creeping plants, grasses, etc, and
allow them to dry for a day or two.
Burn them but do not throw them
away at sea or in any other places. If
not burned, chances of this species to
re-establish and infect new areas are
greatly increased.
Wash hands and body (if necessary)
thoroughly after handling wedelia.
Remember, it is a poisonous species
and everybody is encouraged to take
precautions when handling wedelia.
Call Environment and Conservation
Division to report any new
establishment of wedelia in new areas
around the capital island using the
following contact:
Biodiversity Section, ECD
Phone: 28-000 or 28-593 or 28-647
(Established wedelia around
Tebwanimwaneka Primary School compound:
South Tarawa)
Because it is highly invasive in nature, people
should not be encouraged to transplant this
species from infected to non-infected areas.
The following are guidelines to ensure that
wedelia species do not escape and become
establish on the limited atoll environments of
Kiribati, particularly on those islands that are
already infected:
 People who wish to plant this species
around their front yards as a ground
cover are urgently urged to grow this
species but need to manage and to
ensure that it does not escaped to the
wild.
(Wedelia in bags, ready to be
disposed of. This is a safe way to
transport the species around the
island if need to be)
2