maj de poorter, mick clout, michael browne invasive species specialist group (issg), iucn
DESCRIPTION
Addressing biodiversity impacts in risk analysis: the need for information exchange on invasiveness. Maj De Poorter, Mick Clout, Michael Browne Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG), IUCN Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Definitions used. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Addressing biodiversity impacts in risk analysis: the need for information
exchange on invasiveness
Maj De Poorter, Mick Clout, Michael BrowneInvasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG), IUCN Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity,University of Auckland, New Zealand
Definitions usedDefinitions used
Invasive alien species (IAS): alien species whose introduction and/or spread threaten biological diversity (CBD, 2002).
Introduction: movement by human agency, indirect or direct, of an alien species outside of its natural range - past or present (CBD 2002) Note: can be within a country
Biodiversity = Biological Diversity: Diversity of species (including lower taxa), habitats and ecosystems
IAS affect plants
Photo: DOC
Plants can be major IAS
Photo: Scott Kam
MAGNITUDE OF THREAT: Invasive alien species are a large and growing threat worldwide, affecting biodiversity and livelihoods
Photo: Fen Beed
UN Convention on Biological DiversityUN Convention on Biological Diversity
Article 8(h): ‘….prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats and species.’
Decision VI/23: Guiding principles, etc…
Decision VI/9: Global Plant Strategy (Target 10)
Draft POW Island Biodiversity
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
ISPM 11 - Rev 1 spells out Commodity itself can be invasive (e.g. the garden
plant can be a potential weed) Secondary effects of plant pest on other taxa can be
covered Effect on plant via effect on other taxa can be
covered Effects on native plants can be covered
The environmental impacts caused by IAS are wide ranging and often more complex and surprising than the impacts of, for example, agricultural weeds
Complexity of biodiversity impactsComplexity of biodiversity impacts
Complexity: “Dual Personality Species”
Photo: S. Ziller
Pop
ulat
ion
size
Time
Complexity: “Time lags”, adaptation
Time
Invasion easy to notice – hard to fight
Invasiveness not easy to notice – but easy to fight
Invasive alien plant Chromolaena odorata, in S. Africa: major invader of wetlands……
is a potential risk to:
Complexity: “surprising” indirect effects
CROCODILE SEX RATIO
Xmas Island : millions of migrating red crabs….
Killed by Yellow crazy ants
Complexity: ecosystem meltdown
Scale insects protected
Scale insects protected
Crabs killedCrabs killed
Crazy antsCrazy ants
Biodiversity impacted
Biodiversity impacted
Distant areasaffected
Distant areasaffected
Change litter invertebrates
Change litter invertebrates
Giant snails &Weeds
encouraged
Giant snails &Weeds
encouraged
Crabs killedCrabs killed
Negative impacts:treesseedlingsspecies compo- sition litter breakdown
Negative impacts:treesseedlingsspecies compo- sition litter breakdown
SolutionSolution
1) “guilty until proven innocent” - In the context of alien species, unless there is a reasonable likelihood that an introduction will be harmless, it should be treated as likely to be harmful (IUCN 2000).
2) Prevention, prevention, prevention!
Prevention – Intentional introductionsPrevention – Intentional introductions
White list – of alien species where risk analysis led to a determination that they are ‘low’ risk - and authorisation for introduction has been granted.
Black list – of alien species where risk analysis led to a determination that they are ‘high’ risk and therefore are prohibited for introduction.
Grey list – (further) review / analysis is required before a decision can be made. Introduction is not authorised at this stage.
New Zealand applies this white-black-grey list approach to all intentional introductions, and includes risks to biodiversity….
Prevention: Unintentional introductionsPrevention: Unintentional introductions
Unintentional introductions minimised through risk-based management of pathways
Example: NZ Risk analysis for exotic spiders associated with imported table grapes. Risk analysis included human health and risk to native fauna and flora. Resulted in tightening of IHS.
Cooperation: Ministry Agriculture and Forestry Department of Conservation Ministry of Health
Prevention Prevention Risk Analysis Risk Analysis
Under the IPPC, a risk analysis for a country will assess
a) the risk of entry, b) risk of establishment and c) potential damage that the alien species
may caused) options for management
Including biodiversity risks is a challenge: wider range of impacts, time lags, complexity, Information on prior invasiveness elsewhere is critical
A) Risk of entry A) Risk of entry
Information required includes: pathways associated with a species in the past up to date information on the global distribution -
native and alien (can “get on” a pathway from alien range too)
Pathway : introduction, but also for “spread”(spread usually has a large human component)
Risk of establishment: vulnerability of “receiving” Risk of establishment: vulnerability of “receiving” environmentenvironment
CLIMEX, GARP, BIOSECURE… An invasive species can show a wider climate
and/or environmental tolerance in alien range (e.g Possum in NZ, Salvinia in Sri Lanka)
Predictions & modeling should be based on native and alien distributions
Potential damage: threats to BiodiversityPotential damage: threats to Biodiversity
Information about impacts caused elsewhere (e.g. predation, competition, hybridisation, etc) can be used
IAS + exposure of native biodiversity impacts Biodiversity Impacts caused by IAS will be
different from one area to another It will usually not be possible, nor should it be
required, to predict the exact details (“PRA is a decision making tool not an ecosystem model” Randall)
Potential Damage: Risk of InvasivenessPotential Damage: Risk of Invasiveness
Photo: Landcare
"Only one factor has consistently high correlation with invasiveness: whether or not the species is invasive elsewhere“ (Wittenberg et al. 2001).
Management optionsManagement options
Information on prevention, early detection and rapid response, eradication and control methods used elsewhere
Lessons learned from success and failure need to be shared widely
To summariseTo summarise
Globally sourced information is needed
ecological characteristics prior invasiveness biodiversity impacts caused global distribution (alien range
as well as native) introduction pathways pathways for spread (including
human) management, and lessons
learned
ISSG’s roleISSG’s role
The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of IUCN is involved in several "vehicles" for such international information exchange, including 1) Manages the Global Invasive Species
Database (GISD) 2) Planned development of a "global register of
invasive species“3) The listserver Aliens-L4) Contributes to Global Invasive Species
Information Network (GISIN)
• International cooperation • Collaborative effort of ISSG, UOA, Landcare, NBII• 50,700 hits per day (700 individual users)
Global Invasive Species DatabaseGlobal Invasive Species Database Global Invasive Species DatabaseGlobal Invasive Species Database
www.issg.org/database and www.invasivespecies.net/database
Authoritative information on IAS that affect biodiversity
Management tool as well as raising awareness Standardised, simple format Free & easily available Globally sourced information for local deployment
Ecology, pathwaysDistribution and biostatus (by country)Management (generic and location specific)References, links, contacts
Global Invasive Species DatabaseGlobal Invasive Species Database Global Invasive Species DatabaseGlobal Invasive Species Database
2) Development global register invasive species
Aim of such global register / masterlist: Provide a warning that an alien species has
been considered to have biodiversity impacts anywhere in the world
Users can follow up on those cases that are most relevant to them
Information from National and regional sources Agencies, but also practitioners Will include information not formally published ISSG and IUCN expert networks.
3) Aliens-L3) Aliens-L
Dedicated to IAS information and related issues Focus on environmental invasive species You can make use of Alien-L without subscribing to it Searchable archive: http://cain.nbii.gov/cgi-bin/aliens-l.cgi Practitioners helping each other Email based rather than internet Anarchic and grassroots 600 subscribers It works!
R.Wittenberg
4) The Global Invasive Species Information Network 4) The Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN)(GISIN)
Will provide a platform through which IAS data and information from participating databases can be accessed.
Build the capacity of network members - ‘capacity building’ database that will be offered at no cost
ISSG contributions to development of the GISIN include development of an exchange standard for sharing IAS information (see the draft Invasive Species Profile Schema Login: ias Password: ias2). https://www.biodiv.org/doc/restricted/gisin/default.aspx
Food for thought (1) : Internet Food for thought (1) : Internet Digital Divide Digital Divide
Providing internet access is not enough - it disenfranchises those with slow, unreliable or NO internet access (e.g S Pacific, Large Parts of Africa,…)
Food for thought (2): Conservation CommonsFood for thought (2): Conservation Commons
Information is power Social equity – communities must be able to
solve their own IAS problems IUCN believes that information for Conservation
must be freely available Conservation Commons has the following
principles: Open Access Mutual Benefit Rights and Responsibilities
CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
IAS management requires International information exchange (as well as national and regional) – prior invasiveness information is critical
Structured as well as “grass roots” approaches are required
Internet is good but not the whole answer Information that will assist IAS management for
conservation must be freely available
We welcome assistance – partnerships, resources
Prevention of IAS protects biodiversity, livelihoods, economy, health Prevention of IAS protects current and future trade
Thank youwww.issg.org