Assessing biofuel crop invasiveness: a case study

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Agriculture

Background:

• Growing interest in biofuel crops for energy needs and greenhouse gas reduction.
• Concerns exist regarding the adverse environmental impacts of biofuel crops.
• Lack of regulation and quantified invasiveness risk for terrestrial biofuel crops.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the actual, relative, and potential invasiveness of terrestrial biofuel crops.
• To assess the risk of biofuel crops becoming invasive at regional and international scales.
• To inform policy and regulation regarding biofuel crop cultivation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a widely accepted weed risk assessment system.
• Analyzed a comprehensive list of regionally suitable biofuel crops.
• Compared invasiveness risk of biofuel crops to non-biofuel plant species.

Main Results:

• Seventy percent of analyzed biofuel crops present a high risk of becoming invasive.
• Biofuel crops are 2-4 times more likely to establish wild populations than non-biofuel species.
• High invasiveness risk observed in Hawaii, applicable to similar climates.

Conclusions:

• Biofuel crop invasiveness predictions for Hawaii are relevant to other vulnerable island and subtropical ecosystems.
• A scientifically proven risk assessment protocol can predict species invasiveness.
• Propagule pressure from extensive cultivation will exacerbate invasions; proactive risk assessment and policy are needed.