Post on 31-Mar-2015
Non-native species – GB Progress 2001-07
Niall Moore
Head of the GB Non-native Species Secretariat
Are invasive species amongst the big issues?
Second biggest threat to biodiversity worldwide- Biggest threat on islands
“The most important direct drivers of biodiversity loss and ecosystem service changes are habitat change …, climate change, invasive alien species, overexploitation, and pollution.”
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report
Non-native species in GB
In England - 2,721 non-native species
In Scotland – 988 non-native species
C. 70% vascular plants
Negative impacts 71 moderately/highly negative in Scotland
19 ‘strongly negative’ in England
International commitments
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Bern Convention
Ramsar Convention
European Birds Directive
European Habitats Directive (natural habitats and wild fauna
and flora)
EC 2006 Communication on Halting Loss of Biodiversity by
2010
Progress 2001 - 2003
2001 - Policy Review
launched
2003 - Policy Review Group
report
2003 - Govt response &
consultation
Policy Review report – 8 Recommendations
A single lead co-ordinating organisation
Comprehensive risk assessment
Develop codes of conduct
Targeted education and awareness
Revise and update existing legislation
Establish adequate monitoring and surveillance
Develop policies for control of established and new invasives
Forum for stakeholder engagement
Progress since 2003
2004 Stakeholder Forum established
2004/5 Development of Risk Assessment methodology
2005/6 NERC Act (s.50 sales ban, and s.51 codes of practice)
Co-ordination 2005 – GB Programme Board established 2006 - GB Programme Board Secretariat GB Strategy Working Group
Key GB Mechanism Components
GB Programme Board
Secretariat
Risk Analysis Panel Stakeholder ForumGB Strategy
WorkingGroup & Others
Stakeholder Sounding
Board
GB Programme Board
Leadership and oversight on non-native species policy
Co-ordination in delivering key strategic objectives
10 members – all government
GB NNS Programme Board
GB Programme Board Secretariat
Niall Moore and Diane Owen
Provides the essential administrative support for the Programme
Board, Stakeholder Forum, Working Groups, Risk Analysis
Panel etc.
Drives implementation of actions decided by the Board
The key link between the Board and stakeholders Industry, NGOs, NDPBs, Govt Agencies etc.
Expected to become a very important GB contact point
GB Strategy - development to date
Working group started in March
06
Content considered at
Stakeholder Forum
Draft strategy approved by
Board in December
Ministerial approval in February Public consultation on Strategy
March – May 2007
Full implementation for 2010
Strategy Working Group members
Defra Policy leads JNCC SEERAD Plant Health Division Dept for Transport HM Revenue & Customs Natural England Environment Agency Network Rail
Welsh Assembly Government Countryside Council for Wales Central Science Laboratory Wildlife & Countryside Link Scottish Environment Link Ornamental & Aquatic Trade
Assn. Horticultural Trade Assn Prof Jeff Waage Maritime and Coastguard
Agency
Strategy covers:
Prevention
Early detection, surveillance, monitoring and rapid response
Mitigation, control and eradication
Building awareness and understanding
Legislation
Research
Information exchange and integration
49 Key actions cover
Important strategy policy linkages
Plant Health Strategy
Animal Health & Welfare Strategy
Wildlife Health Strategy
International Convention for the Control and Management of
Ships Ballast Water and Sediments
Biodiversity Action Planning
Risk Analysis
Risk analysis panel established – Dec 2006
Horizon Scanning RA will underpin
Decision making Prioritisation Risk management
options
Monitoring and surveillance
Scoping study 2007 BRC/BTO/MBA
Aim - to make recommendations on comprehensive NNS monitoring scheme for GB Established NNS Interceptions
Rapid Intervention
Rapid response is key Saves resources:
Water Primrose - 10K (J. Knotweed – 1.5 Billion)
Minimises impact Bullfrogs and chytrid
fundus
Large-scale Control: Ruddy Duck eradication
Programme started in Autumn 2005 Population – 4,411
18 months later 900 remain
Team of 10 staff 5 years duration Cull programmes
France, Spain, (Portugal, Morocco, Denmark, Iceland)
Ruddy ducks: the pan-European campaign
Ruddy Ducks and Hybrids shot in Spain
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
Ruddy Ducks
Hybrids
Ruddy Ducks shot in France
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Ruddy Ducks and Hybrids shot in Europe
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
Ruddy Ducks shot in the UK
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Engagement with stakeholders
Govt. does not have all the answers Despite out-numbering others 10: 1
“Talk to industry don't just talk about industry!”
Engage from the start Defra-led review did not for many months Informal consultations are extremely useful for both sides
Include stakeholders in all processes Avoids feelings of exclusion
Treat all sectors equally at meetings
Stakeholder engagement 2
"Everyone contributed to causing the problem and everyone needs to be part of the solution"
This includes Government Is government implementing what it expects others to
do? Horticulture code of Practice
Stakeholder engagement (GB, to date)
Stakeholder Forum NGO and Industry input
Talks Workshops
Sounding Board For semi-formal consultations In advance of PB meetings
Regular meetings with stakeholders Secretariat website www.nonnativespecies.org
Public Awareness Working Group
Stakeholder engagement: achievements
GB Strategy – high degree of agreement Industry, Conservation NGOs and Govt.
Pre-consultations prior to legislating Codes of Practice
Good industry engagement Horticulture – 2005 Companion animal – in progress
Practical results – OATA Plastic bags –
‘Ornamental fish and plants bought for aquariums and ponds must never be released into the wild’
Over 1,000,000 bags to public annually
Policy Review report - Key Recommendations:
A single lead co-ordinating organisation Comprehensive risk assessment Develop codes of conduct In Progress
Targeted education and awareness
Revise and update existing legislation In Progress
Establish adequate monitoring and surveillance In Progress
Develop policies for control of established and new invasives
Forum for stakeholder engagement
Pause for thought…
GB administrations will establish the “big machinery” Risk Analysis Comprehensive monitoring Better prevention measures Strategic research Increased public awareness Legislation
Responsibility for addressing the impacts of invasive non-native species is shared – not all down to government to fix
Successful strategy implementation needs strong stakeholder commitment and partnerships
Convention on Biological Diversity:-
Article 8 – In Situ Conservation: (h) Prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien
species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species;
Decision VI/23 called, inter alia, for: National strategies and plans Adopted the Guiding Principles, the second of which sets out
the 3 stage hierarchical approach: (i) prevention; (ii) early detection and rapid reaction and (iii) eradication, containment and long term control
Bern Convention:-
Under article 11(2), each Contracting Party undertakes:
to strictly control the introduction of non-native species.
European Strategy on Invasive Alien Species, by Genovesi and Shine published in 2003.
Ramsar Convention:-
Resolution VIII.18 on Invasive Species and Wetlands, amongst other actions, calls for:
Risk assessments and, Development and implementation of national strategies.
Operational objective 5 of the 2003 – 2008 Ramsar Strategic Plan is wholly concerned with invasive alien species
EU Birds and Habitats Directives:-
Article 11 Birds Directive: Member states shall see that any introduction of species of bird which do not occur naturally in the wild state in the European territory of the member states does not prejudice the local flora and fauna.
Article 22(b) Habitats Directive: ensure that the deliberate introduction into the wild of any species which is not native to their territory is regulated so as not to prejudice natural habitats within their natural range or the wild native fauna and flora and, if they consider it necessary, prohibit such introduction.