advertentiePlants and animals that do not naturally occur in the Netherlands can still end up here by unnoticed hitchhiking with campers materials. To prevent this, campers should thoroughly clean their car, camping materials, and belongings before heading home.
This is stated by the Risk Assessment & Research Bureau (BuRO) of the NVWA in an advice on the risks of hitchhiking exotics to the Inspector General of the NVWA. The advice is based on a risk assessment of the routes by which exotic species can reach our country through camping activities. This risk assessment was carried out by the Bargerveen Foundation in collaboration with Radboud University and FLORON, commissioned by BuRO.
On campsites along the Dutch coast, an increasing number of exotic plant species are being found. One example is the needle seed flower (Soliva sessilis), which is common on campsites. The seeds carry a thorn that can easily penetrate human skin, leading to inflammation.
It was previously unknown which species could hitchhike with campers. The risk assessment identified 148 species that have likely entered the Netherlands through camping activities or may do so in the future. Vascular plants and insects are most frequently mentioned in the literature as (potential) hitchhikers.
The two main introduction routes are hitchhiking with cars, tents, caravans, and the like, and being carried by people, for example, as seeds hitchhike on clothing and shoes. Additionally, exotics can also hitchhike in soil, for instance, soil that sticks to the tent fabric or the legs of the caravan. They can also hitchhike with firewood.
Effects in the Netherlands
Several species have negative effects on, for example, biodiversity or human health. Literature mentions harmful effects for 36 species. These are primarily ecological effects, such as the displacement of native plants, feeding damage to trees, and predation of animal species. There are also species that can have effects on public health.
Preventing Introduction in the Netherlands
The report also indicates how to prevent hitchhiking with cars, campers, caravans, tents, ground sheets, and firewood. Campers can take measures to prevent hitchhiking of exotics from abroad. Examples include: thoroughly sweep out the car/camper/caravan/ground sheet/tent and shake out any mats; check for insects in the vehicle; do not bring firewood back.
The report Risk Assessment Pathways Hitchhiking Exotics Through Camping Activities is available on the NVWA website.