Down through the years Bermuda has paid a price from the impact of invasive plants, animals and insects that have found their way onto the Island.

The most notable example of recent times was the inadvertent introduction of Cedar Scale that wiped out 98 percent of the Island?s Cedar trees.

When it comes to protecting the Island?s environment and natural resources, finding ways to curb the arrival of damaging wildlife and trees is high on the list of necessary actions.

Limits on the importation of animal species already exist, but there is a problem when it comes to plants. Invasive species such as the Brazilian pepper (also known as the Mexican pepper) tree, that is included in the ?World?s Worst Invaders? list, can still be imported into Bermuda despite the destruction it causes to native vegetation.

A proposed solution in the draft Sustainable Development Strategy is to create an import ban list of plant species for the Island.

Environmentalist David Wingate, said: ?The issue is can Government afford to control and eliminate these species? The best step is prohibition.

?The problem is that many people do not know if what they are bringing in is going to be a problem. There is a developed list of species that are known to have caused problems elsewhere in the world. Once something is on that stop list it should not be allowed here. Once a species gets here it can cause millions of dollars in environmental damage and control costs.?

The Brazilian/Mexican pepper tree is one problem species mentioned in the sustainable development document.

Dr. Wingate said: ?It is very fast growing and grows larger than most of the native plants. It sags over other vegetation and you end up with a thicket that is impenetrable to walk through.?