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.