The Impact of Invasive Buckthorn on Ecosystem Services and its Potential for Bioenergy Production: A review

ABSTRACT Two species of invasive shrubs are causing extensive environmental harm across North America. Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.) and glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus P. Mill.), originally imported from Europe, have become naturalized in many different ecosystems and are causing negative effects on associated ecosystem services. These invasive plants often create dense, monotypic stands that out-compete native plant species for nutrients and light. Current control methods, including manual or mechanical removal, are expensive and are mainly limited to destroying the buckthorn on site. The high cost of removal may be a barrier for restoration. Economic valuation should be carried out in terms of ecosystems services to better understand the cost-benefit of removing buckthorn. A cost-effective solution for removing buckthorn should also be explored. In this review, the state of the knowledge on the effects of buckthorn and its cost associated with major ecosystem services were synthesized. Existing methods to harvest and transport buckthorn and potential new methods were compiled. Finally, a policy review of buckthorn was completed for states where buckthorn is most prevalent. Findings from this review will be important for applying an economic cost to buckthorn and revealing where more work can be done.