Plant invasions in mountain areas of the Andes: current status and the role of tourism and recreation.

BARROS A.; LEMBRECHTS, J.; HAIDER, S.; FUENTES LILLO, E.; ALVAREZ M. A.; ASCHERO V.; BONJOUR L.; PICKERING, C.; REW, L.; PAUCHARD, A.

Pucón

Conferencia; 16TH International Conference on Ecology and Management of Alien Plant Invasions; 2023

Mountains are known to be less susceptible to plant invasions compared to lowlandenvironments due to the harsher climatic conditions, but this pattern is changing dueto global warming and increased human use. Several human factors contribute to thespread and establishment of non-native plants in mountains, including those associatedwith the increased popularity of tourism and recreation worldwide. During this talk I willsummarize current standardized studies developed by MIREN network assessing therole of mountain roads and trails on plant invasions globally. I will also provide examplesfrom studies assessing how vehicles, pack animals and, even tourists themselves,act as important vectors for the unintentional introduction of non-native plants. I willprovide special emphasis on observational and experimental studies conducted in theSouthern Andes of Argentina and Chile, contrasting the results between mountainsin the dry steppes and temperate forests. To conclude, I will discuss the social andmanagement dimensions of mountain plant invasions, including examples from localstudies assessing tourist’s awareness about plant invasions and current managementactions undertaken to mitigate its impacts.