Module 3: preventing biological invasions Developing legal and institutional frameworks for invasive alien species

Module 3:

preventing biological invasions

Developing legal and institutional frameworks

for invasive alien species

preventing biological invasions2

what this module covers:

1. why prevention is critical

2. where prevention measures are applied

3. dealing with risk and uncertainty

4. regulating intentional introductions

5. pathway management to minimise unintentional introductions

6. education & awareness

what decision-makers need to know about invasive

species

what decision-makers need to know about invasive

species Module 1Module 1

laying the foundations for effective national frameworks

laying the foundations for effective national frameworksModule 2Module 2

preventing biological invasions

preventing biological invasions Module 3Module 3

responding to biological invasions

responding to biological invasions Module 4Module 4

getting results: compliance, enforcement and liability

getting results: compliance, enforcement and liability Module 5Module 5

legal frameworks for cooperation beyond borders

legal frameworks for cooperation beyond borders Module 6Module 6


why is prevention so important?

• the most efficient and cost-effective way of dealing with invasive alien species is to stop them being introduced in the first place

• internationally-backed prevention and control strategies endorse the maxim “prevention is better than cure”.

• policy justification for prevention is based on the need to protect the country and region from the impacts described in Module 1


prevention as first line of defence

Prevention Early Detectionand Eradication

Control

Alien Species Introductions

Adapted from Wittenberg R., 2000



where are prevention measures applied?

pre-border

• certification• Inspection• IAS-proof

packaging• treatment• pre-quarantine for

live organisms

border

• compliance assessment

• visual inspection• remote inspection• x-ray• cameras• post-entry

quarantine for live organisms

post-border

• public awareness• surveillance• active • passive• pre-planned

response programmes

• pre-planned management programmes


key services in border-related prevention

border control of imported goods

clearance of goods, may involve ensuring that no

prohibited goods are imported

collecting necessary revenues

screen imported and exported goods and

incoming passengers to minimise importation of

unwanted pests and diseases

critical to trade facilitation and food security

develop regulations to mitigate risks to human, animal and plant health arising from imports.

import protocols set required process and

product standards that exporters must meet in order to get permission

for their goods to be imported

CustomsCustoms quarantinequarantinesanitary and phytosanitary

services

sanitary and phytosanitary

services


dealing with risk and uncertainty

applying Risk Analysis to IAS

• traditionally applied to protect certain interests (e.g. commercial crops) and limited to certain taxa

• international instruments now support broader application to all taxa and pathways and all types of potential impacts

• needs to be science-based, independent, transparent and harmonised as much as possible with international practice.


Risk Communication

Informing stakeholders about the risks and

measures to be taken to manage those risks

Risk Management

Identifying what needs to be done to eliminate or

reduce the risks

Components of risk analysis

Risk Assessment

Identifying and evaluating the risks from a particular

species or the risks associated with a

particular pathway


Risk analysis can be used to prioritise pathways for control

TRANSPORTATION LIVING INDUSTRY MISCELLANEOUS

Modes of Transportation Air Water/Aquatic Land Terrestrial

Military Travel & Transportation of Military Vehicles

Items used in Shipping

Mail/Internet Overnight ShippingTravelTourism/Relocation

Plant Pathways

Food Pathways

Non-Food Animal PathwaysBait Pet/aquarium trade Aquaculture Non-pet animals Release of organisms for

religious cultural or other reasons

Nonliving Animal and Plant Related Pathways

BiocontrolOther Aquatic PathwaysInterconnected waterwaysFreshwater canals Marine/estuarine canals Domestic waste streams Interbasin transfers

Natural Spread of Established Populations

Ecosystem Disturbance Long-term (highway and utility

rights-of-way, clearing, logging)

Short-term (habitat restoration, enhancement)

GarbageTransport/landfill


• risk analysis

• authorisation procedures

• species lists

• quarantine and border control

• treatment

• vector/pathway management

• education and awareness

legal tools for IAS prevention


regulating intentional introductions

•species that are directly introduced into the wild for economic reasons

•species introduced into captivity/containment (risk of escape or deliberate release)


prevention tools for intentional introductions

risk analysis

environmental impact assessment:• incorporate findings of the risk analysis and the potential environmental

and socio-economic impacts of proposed introduction

authorisation procedures:

• prohibitions (absolute or qualified)

• permits (case-specific or general permits)

• issued outright or with conditions (regarding treatment, inspection, measures to prevent escape, contingency plans, remedial action)


species can be assigned a legal category based on an assessment of risk: to be effective, such lists need to be regularly updated

Х

black list white list

OKmore tests

needed

grey list

prevention tools for intentional introductions (continued)

An importer wishing to bring in a new species (e.g. animal for farming)

Risk analysis and Environmental impact assessment undertaken – Import either:

Low Risk – Import accepted

A licence or permit is issued to bring in the organism: states what quarantine conditionsmust be met and/or the treatment needed e.g. fumigation

Relevant authorities inspect the new import to check compliance

Audits are carried out to monitor the importer’s compliance with permit conditions

Example of legal tools to screen intentional import

High risk – Import rejected


• managing pathways and vectors (use of pathway risk analysis)

• quarantine and border control

• treatment

• education and awareness

prevention tools for unintentional introductions


• legal frameworks must provide for identification of pathways & establish pathway controls

• prioritise high-risk pathways and be flexible for new pathways– consider existing sectoral instruments into which IAS pathway

controls could be integrated– identify gaps that need attention

managing pathways and vectors


• legal measures to minimise introduction of hitchhikers, stowaways and illegal introductions

• implemented at pre-border, at border and post-border stages

• measures in legal frameworks for phytosanitary treatment

quarantine, border control and treatment


in the late 1990s, military flights from the U.S. to Bosnia during the Balkan conflict introduced the corn rootworm into Europe.

as a result, one of the U.S.’s worst crop pests has established and is spreading throughout Eastern Europe where corn is a staple cereal crop. (J. Waage pers. com.)

“AID TRADE”

example of pathway detection and risk management

tackling illegal introductions


education and public awareness

thank you

limitations of prevention

• no prevention system 100% effective

• national regulatory frameworks must also provide for control of IAS

Documents

Module 3: preventing biological invasions Developing legal and institutional frameworks for invasive alien species