Pampas Grass
Origin
Pampas grass is a species native to South America, specifically the subtropical area of Brazil, Chile and the Argentine and Uruguayan pampas. It lives in riparian areas, along the banks of water courses and in wet areas where the water table comes to the surface, always in areas with a temperate oceanic climate with mild winters.
Species introduced into Europe
This plant shows a strong invasive exotic character in those places where it has been introduced. This fact has been confirmed in places as diverse as North America, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa and Europe. In Europe it is present as an invasive exotic species in the countries of the Atlantic Arc (such as Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, etc.), in Mediterranean countries (such as Italy and Greece) and in Central European countries (such as the Czech Republic), according to the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN).
Cortaderia distribution map. Source: EASIN (downloaded on 3 January 2024 https://easin.jrc.ec.europa.eu)
Cortaderia selloana & Cortaderia jubata
Impacts generated by Cortaderia
Impacts on habitat
It has the ability to modify the habitat by forming dense stands that compete effectively with native flora: it is a transforming species. It alters the structure of vegetation, the relative abundance of native species and the patterns of natural succession of vegetation, being a threat to the ecological quality of many habitats, particularly in coastal areas and grasslands; it causes damage even at low densities due to the wide coverage it can occupy.
Impacts on species
It displaces native vegetation through competition. It can form monospecific masses that almost completely exclude the rest of the vegetation. Its rapid growth and accumulation of above-ground and underground biomass give it an advantage when it comes to accessing resources such as light, nutrients and water that would otherwise be available to other species. They hinder and even prevent the recruitment or regeneration of native plants.
Health impacts
Its high pollen production can cause allergy problems at different times than those caused by native grasses, prolonging the period of respiratory allergies. Its sharp leaves can cut the skin. Wildlife is also at risk when it has to cross areas invaded by Cortaderia.
It is a pyrophytic plant, which can promote the spread of fires and the colonization of the land after a fire. The large amount of flammable biomass they produce can increase the intensity of fires.
Transnational Alliance Against Cortaderia
Following the great achievements of the previous Life Stop Cortaderia project, and in order to reduce the impact of Cortaderia on the environment of the Atlantic Arc and to combat the spread of the species, the LIFE Coop Cortaderia project is being launched.
The LIFE COOP Cortaderia Project “Stop Cortaderia + “Development and implementation of a transnational Alliance against Cortaderia” has a duration of 5 years and its general objective is to stimulate cooperation and coordinated action to control and contain Cortaderia selloana in the Atlantic Arc. It aims to control its populations by protecting in particular Natura 2000 coastal areas and river corridors, to work on the confinement of the species and to promote the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge to other biogeographic regions where Cortaderia is also a problem, thanks to the Transnational Alliance.
To this end, we work according to the strategic bases agreed in the “Transnational Strategy for the Fight against Cortaderia selloana in the Atlantic Arc”, drafted and approved during the LIFE STOP Cortaderia project (LIFE17 NAT/ES/495).
