The latest phase of clearing all non-native plants from the la Mata-Torrevieja Natural Park has cost 10,000 euros.Already one hectare of land next to the Torreta urbanisation at torrevieja salt lake has been cleared of plants such as Prickley pear,Aloe Yucca,Octopus Plant,Cat’s Claw,Acacia and Spanish Flag.This is an ongoing campaign to remove these alien plants.
These plants have either entered the area by seeding or they have been introduced in some other way.Whatever the method they alter the ecosystems of the park.Often they push out the native species.One other method which has been blamed for the invasion is the habit of dumping garden waste in the area.
In 2007 the Valencia regional government decreed that only native vegetation should be present in the parks.One other problem is that many of the plants growing around the salt lakes encourage mosquitos.Without these plants the salt lakes do not offer a natural breeding ground for these insects.It is going to take many years before all of these plants have been eradicated from the park.
