The decision was made last Friday during the Intermunicipal Council meeting of the Intermunicipal Community of the Algarve (AMAL), an association that brings together the 16 municipalities of the Faro district, according to a statement from the entity.

According to AMAL, ‘Cortaderia selloana’, known as pampas grass, is one of the most widespread invasive species in Portugal, causing “negative impacts on tourism due to the degradation of natural landscapes, requiring control measures with high economic costs”.

Originating from the temperate regions of South America, the plant, which can reach three meters in height, “causes allergy problems and prevents the development of native vegetation,” says the association of Algarve municipalities.

The proliferation of the plant also causes “the loss of habitat connectivity for fauna and reduces the productivity of pastures and forests,” the statement reads.

To stop the spread of the species, AMAL will join the “Life Coop Cortaderia” project, seeking to strengthen the knowledge and technical resources of municipalities and other entities in controlling the invasive plant, the intermunicipal entity emphasises.

The strategy foresees the sharing of tools and knowledge to improve the effectiveness of control, surveillance, and early detection actions for this invasive species.

The project currently brings together more than 180 partner entities from Portugal, Spain, and France, involved in awareness-raising initiatives, early-detection monitoring, and the eradication of invasive species.