Main content

Eating invasive species

When plants and animals invade new areas, can we ‘eat them to beat them’?

All across the world, invasive species are on the march. These are plants and animals that take over new areas, throwing nature out of balance. If left unchecked, they can destroy local ecosystems, drive native species to extinction - and put local livelihoods at risk.

But people have been finding innovative ways to combat these invaders… like eating them!

In Belize, we look at how encouraging local fisherman and restaurants to catch and serve up invasive lionfish has helped control their numbers and protect the local reefs.

Meanwhile in Nashville, Tennessee, we see how one urban shepherd is deploying his flock of sheep - dubbed the ‘Nashville Chew Crew’ - to eat invasive plants and weeds across the city.

Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporter: Marisol Amaya
Producer/Reporter: Zoe Gelber
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Sound Mix: Hal Haines
Editor: Penny Murphy

email: peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk

Image: A lionfish (Getty Images)

Release date:

Available now

24 minutes

People fixing the world on YouTube

Watch stories of people changing their world on the World Service English YouTube channel

Podcast