Turnabout: Naupaka is an invasive species in the Bahamas

One example is the Scaevola plant, also known as the Hawaiian Seagrape or White Inkberry. With its lush green leaves and quick growth rate, this invader is a very popular landscaping plant. As it rapidly spreads, the Hawaiian Seagrape creates thickets along our coastlines, out-competing and killing native plants such as Sea Oats, Sea Lavender, Blue Inkberry, mangroves and numerous other plants in our country. Without these native plants to stabilize the beach and prevent erosion, there is no telling the effect it may have on our native Bahamian wildlife such as birds, crabs, lizards or our fish nurseries. If not removed, the Hawaiian Seagrape may take over our mangroves and wetlands