2023-08-27 14:48:24
Brussels firefighters will ask the government to call on private firms to fight against Asian hornets. The exotic species creates a famous “additional workload” and “often mobilizes significant resources” from the emergency services in the capital.
It is making serious inroads into continental Europe and Belgium is no exception to the phenomenon. In 2022, seven Asian hornet nest exterminations had to be carried out during the month of August, for a total of 81 interventions over the whole year. In 2023, nests were destroyed 70 times while 140 interventions of all kinds were necessary. “And the busiest months have not yet arrived”, warns the spokesperson for the Brussels fire brigade, Walter Derieuw.
The impact of this invasive species on native biodiversity can be significant, so it is important to continue to intervene, notes the spokesperson for the men of the fire. He calls for a new agreement on the missions assigned to firefighters, given the additional workload of the fight against Asian hornets.
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