Aliens are coming! Threatening invasion or new opportunities from introduced tree species in Europe?

Photo: M.Mina

Austrian “Apfel strudel” and the Italian “Castagnaccio” are only two of the many culinary recipes that are traditional in Europe. But did you know that their main ingredients are the product of trees – Malus domestica and Castanea sativa – that are actually non-native to Europe? Many trees and crops have been introduced to Europe over the last centuries but when does a species become “invasive”? Could newly introduced tree species be an opportunity in this uncertain era of climatic changes? Scientists are trying to make light to many of these questions.

The post is published in the website Forest Monitor

Here’s the link to the post

Marco Mina
Marco Mina
Postdoctoral fellow

Forest ecologist, cross-country skier and mountain lover.