Observatree / IPSN Conference on Tree and Plant Health

Early Warning Systems in Europe (Kew, GB, 2016-02-23/24)

EPPO perspective on tree pests and early warning

Anne-Sophie Roy

EPPO - roy@eppo.int

EPPO: a brief introduction

What is EPPO? European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization

● EPPO is an intergovernmental organization

● Created in 1951 by 15 countries

● It has now 50 member countries

● International cooperation in plant protection: plant quarantine and pest control

● Work with National Plant Protection Organizations - NPPOs (Plant Protection Services)

NPPOs role in plant health

National Plant Protection

Organizations (surveillance, containment, éradication)

Prevent spread to

other countries

Notify new outbreaks

and introductions

Protect the territory against

introductions

Phytosanitary regulations

can be one of the tools to

control emerging and

invasive pests

EPPO’s missions Prevent entry and spread of harmful organisms (crops, forests, natural environments)

Recommendations on pests which should be regulated as quarantine pests (EPPO A1 and A2 Lists)

Prepare standards (e.g. phytosanitary measures, diagnostic protocols)

Provide information to EPPO members on pests Regulated pests Pests which may present a risk to the EPPO region

New tree pests and diseases in Europe

‘New tree pests’ in Europe

Acizzia jamatonica (albizia psyllid – sap feeder) Aproceros leucopoda (zig-zag elm sawfly – defoliator) Anoplophora chinensis and A. glabripennis (wood borers) Aromia bungii (redneck longhorned beetle – wood borer)

‘New tree pests’ in Europe

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (pine wood nematode) Cameraria ohridella (horse-chestnut leafminer) Cydalima perspectalis (box tree pyralid) Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Oriental chestnut gall wasp) and many more …

‘New tree diseases’ in Europe

Hymenoscyphus fraxinea (ash dieback) Geosmithia morbida (thousand cankers disease) Heterobasidion irregulare (but rot of conifers) Phytophthora kernoviae Phytophthora lateralis Phytophthora ramorum Xylella fastidiosa

Economic impacts of ‘new pests’

UNITED KINGDOM: Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae

Research and development + containment and eradication =

5 800 000 euros per year

NPPO of Spain - International Conference ‘Red palm weevil control strategy for Europe’ (Valencia, 2010-05-05/06)

SPAIN: Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Estimated costs of official control from 2002 to 2009:

45 500 000 euros

Williams et al. (2010) The economic cost of invasive non-native species on Great Britain. CABI Wallingford, UK, 197 pp.

Agrilus planipennis (Emerald ash borer)

Before (Ohio, US)

After

Asian species,

introduced in Canada,

USA and the Moscow

region in Russia. Absent

in Western Europe.

Leptocybe invasa in Africa

Dendroctonus valens

in China

Sirex noctilio in Brazil

Agrilus planipennis in Canada and USA

A worldwide issue

Intensification and diversification of commercial exchanges of plants

and plant products

More accidental

introductions

of pests

General trends observed

• Asian origin of new pests is now predominating (reflecting trade pathways)

• New infestations are often found on urban or sub-urban trees

• Some species were unknown (new for science)

• Some species were not known to be PESTS in their area of origin

Early warning within EPPO

Why early warning is needed?

NPPOs need to define their strategies in advance, or as soon as possible to:

• Initiate PRA activities

• Draft contingency plans

• Elaborate surveillance programmes, diagnostic tools

• Implement eradication/containment programmes

• Implement prohibitions/restrictions on plant movements

• Prepare information/communication material for stakeholders …

Early warning: what is the trigger?

New introductions of pests

Expansion of geographical distribution (EPPO region and elsewhere)

New host plants

New vectors

Increase of damage

Progress in taxonomy…

Something new or unusual …

Early warning: the EPPO Alert List

It provides information on:

• distribution,

• host plants,

• biology,

• damage,

• transmission,

• pathway,

• possible risks

http://www.eppo.int/QUARANTINE/Alert_List/alert_list.htm

The Alert List is constantly updated by the EPPO Secretariat

Each pest is reviewed critically every year by EPPO experts:

possible candidates for Pest Risk Analysis are selected

when alert has been given and if no further action is recommended, pests are deleted after 3 years on the list

Early warning is part of the EPPO strategy

• Manage an early warning system (Alert List) and maintain a database (EPPO GD)

• Evaluate the risks presented by potentially invasive pests (Pest Risk Analysis)

• Make recommendations on pests which should be regulated in Europe (standards)

Alert List

(proposal from Norway

in 2010)

PRA

(experts met in 2010)

EPPO

A1 List (recommendation

in 2011)

EU

regulated pest

(quarantine in 2014)

Trigger: increase in the trade of wood from North

America used to produce biofuel (e.g. wood chips),

as this material may be stored close to birch trees

Example of Agrilus anxius (bronze birch borer)

Other pest alert systems

Early warning: a few thoughts

Early warning: a few challenges

• When studies are carried out on a pest basis: the

results do not ‘highlight’ organisms which are not pests in their areas of origin

• When resulting from a pathway analysis: studies generate long lists of potential pests which have to be documented and prioritized, and do not necessarily ‘highlight’ organisms which are not pests in their areas of origin

When trying to identify potential risks: a lot of data has to be

collected, analyzed, and prioritized.

Early warning: possible improvements

• Have better tools to follow and predict trade patterns

• Improve predictive models and necessary data sets to determine:

- areas at risks before they are invaded - spread patterns

• Continue to develop tools for early detection in the field

• Better inform and involve the public about risks in plant

health (citizen science)

• Last but not least! : develop networks of sentinel trees (arboreta, and tree plantations in other parts of the world) to identify potential pests of European trees

Thank you for your attention