The regulation creates a management plan to control exotic species in the Laguna de San Vicente, such as the yellow iris, and progressively replace them with native flora in the Natural Reserve.
The Deliberative Council of San Vicente has taken a decisive step for the protection of its local ecosystem by unanimously approving a new ordinance aimed at stopping the spread of invasive plants in the Reserva Natural Laguna del Ojo.
This legislation establishes a formal framework for the control, prevention, and eradication of exotic species that currently threaten the biodiversity of the water body and adjacent public areas.
The regulation, promoted by councilor Gastón Lodigiani (Frente de Todos), instructs the municipal Executive Department to design and implement a “Invasive Exotic Species Management Plan” (PMEEI).
As a central part of this strategy, a “Specific Guide for the Control of Invasive Species in the Reserva Laguna del Ojo” must be developed, which will serve as the technical protocol for interventions in the field.
The need for this measure is based on the serious risk these species represent. Species such as the acacia, privet, and particularly problematic in the wetland, the yellow iris, aggressively compete with the native flora. By displacing them, they significantly alter the ecological balance of the reserve.
The focus of the ordinance of San Vicente is not limited to the simple extraction of invasive plants. The plan promotes a “progressive substitution“, which implies that the removed exotic species must be replaced by native specimens, such as the ceibo and creole willow, with the aim of restoring the original landscape of the lagoon.
To complement management actions, the legislation establishes an explicit prohibition on planting new invasive exotic species in the Laguna de San Vicente, both within the reserve and in other public spaces in the district. In parallel, the municipality will take responsibility for developing citizen awareness campaigns, aiming to educate residents about the negative impact of these plants and the importance of protecting native flora.
The foundations of the approved project remind us that invasive exotic species are globally recognized as one of the most serious threats to biodiversity conservation. Their ability for uncontrolled proliferation can lead to alterations in water cycles, modify the composition of soils, and radically transform ecosystems.
In the specific case of the Laguna de San Vicente, the yellow iris has been identified as a critical agent. This aquatic plant has the ability to form “carpets” or dense layers on the water surface.
These mats prevent the entry of sunlight and reduce the oxygenation of the Laguna de San Vicente’s water body, directly affecting all aquatic life that depends on that balance.
