Protecting Pacific Island Flora from "Killer Plant" Merremia peltata

The authors carried out investigations in the Federated States of Micronesia in 2017, 2018, and 2019, totaling 51 days, and found 60% of the flora on the main islands of the four states of Yap, Chuuk, Kosrae and Pohnpei damaged by Merremia peltata, a plant of the Convolvulaceae family. Merremia peltata, featuring extremely great propagation and adaptation abilities, harms other plants by invading them, growing fast, and covering densely the top of the canopy. Lower plants below its coverage will likely be killed in predatory competition for light and soil nutrition. 

On the main islands of Chuk and Kosrae, where the case is the most serious, the coverage rate by Merremia peltata is over 80% and can be up to 100% in some areas in hills and low mountains. This is undoubtedly catastrophic for biodiversity on the islands and causes immeasurable losses to local agriculture. We saw coconut trees, the "tree of life" for southern Pacific islands, killed in large quantities and major cash crops, such as banana and Artocarpus altilis, severely threatened. Biodiversity protection is highly significant for the sustainable development of Pacific island countries, so we call upon the relevant country to start prevention and control and hazardous plants immediately and the neighboring countries to stay alerted for the invasion of Merremia peltata.

Low mountains completely covered by Merremia peltata

The broad leaves are an important weapon in the predatory competition for in which Merremia peltata kills other plants

Strong adaptability and a dense canopy keep all other creatures covered

Biodiversity and eco-equilibrium on the islands are severely threatened

Coconut, Artocarpus altilis and other crops are seriously damaged

About the author：LIU Guodao, YANG Hubiao, WANG Qinglong, ZHANG Xue

For more information, please contact WFP China COE (wfpcn.coe@wfp.org)