Falklands Conservation

More than one third of plants growing in the Falklands have been introduced since humans first came to the Islands. They all affect the native vegetation to a greater or lesser degree, and many of them have benefited agricultural and rural development. Thistles however are not so welcome. The Creeping Thistle has probably been around the Islands for many years, but the Spear Thistle has been reported here only since the 1990s and may still be spreading. On West Falkland we know of Spear Thistles at Saunders Island and possibly on Keppel Island. In the East, Creeping Thistles are flourishing in and around Stanley. Both species are found at Mare Harbour.

Thistles thrive on disturbed ground such as building sites and road edges. This means that they can be spread easily by vehicles. In addition, they produce seeds that are carried by wind, a commodity of which we are not short of here in the Falklands. The plants are invasive and alter the structure of the natural vegetation. They tend to be very vigorous. Most of the insects that control them in the UK are probably absent here in the Falklands. They have magnificent purple flower heads but have very nasty prickles and rapidly form dense impenetrable thickets. For farmers, they are pests and reduce grazing quality of pastures. In addition the prickles get caught in sheep fleeces and make them very difficult to handle. There is also evidence that thistles can spread orf, a viral disease that affects an animal's ability to graze.

Following initial work by the Department of Agriculture, Falklands Conservation has initiated a project to get rid of the Spear Thistles at Elephant Point on Saunders Island. In addition, volunteers at this year's Falklands Conservation Beach Clean dug up Creeping Thistles at Whalebone Cove. The military are investigating the feasibility of a thistle control programme at Mare Harbour.

Compared with other countries the spread of thistle in the Falkland Islands is relatively limited. Thus, total eradication could be achievable. Falklands Conservation is trying to discover where else they occur in the Islands and are appealing for further information on other locations.

Taken from an article in Penguin News by Falklands Conservation Trustee Philippa Thompson.

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