http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Towards a dedicated legislative instrument on
Invasive Alien Species
Health and Invasive Risks of Exotic Animals
Intergroup on the Welfare & Conservation of Animals
Strasbourg, 27 October 2011
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Introduction
The problem one major cause of biodiversity loss
no comprehensive EU instrument
rapidly growing driver of biodiversity loss
cost of inaction/delayed action >> cost of policy action
12 billion € /year >> 40-190 million € /year
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Transport across ecological barriers
Negative impacts on biodiversity, human health and the economy
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
New EU Biodiversity Strategy
Target 5, by 2020: IAS and pathways are identified and prioritized priority species are controlled or eradicated pathways are managed to prevent introduction and
establishment of new IAS
Actions: Action 15: Strengthen the EU Plant and Animal Health
Regimes - integrate additional biodiversity concerns into the Plant and Animal Health regimes by 2012
Action 16: Establish a dedicated instrument on Invasive Alien Species - fill policy gaps in combating IAS by developing a dedicated legislative instrument by 2012
Context
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Convention on Biological Diversity
Three-stage hierarchical approach: Prevention Early detection and rapid eradication Control and/or containment
COP 10 Nagoya (18-29 October 2010) By 2020
IAS and pathways are identified and prioritized priority species are controlled or eradicated measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent IAS
introduction and establishment
Another relevant international process: Ballast Water Convention
Context
WILDLIFE TRADEREGULATION
Habitats and BirdsDirectives
Marine Strategy DIRECTIVE
Water Framework DIRECTIVE
AQUACULTURE REGULATION
ANIMAL HEALTH REGIME
PLANT HEALTH REGIME
IAS
UNDERGOING REVISION IN 2012
Action 15: Biodiversity concerns in EU Animal and Plant Health
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
State of play
2008 – Public consultation and working groups with Member States, stakeholders and experts
2008 - Communication “Towards an EU Strategy on Invasive Species”
2010 – Stakeholders Consultation
2010-2011 – Working groups with Member States, stakeholders and experts
All material available online:
http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/ias/library?l=/general_information&vm=detailed&sb=Title
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm
Action 16: Dedicated legislative instrument
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Technical support
Baseline information:
IAS
10,961 alien species in the European environment
10-15 % are invasive
impacts of IAS
Preliminary estimate of cost of inaction: EUR 12 billion/year
Preliminary estimate of cost of action 40-190 million € /year
Dedicated legislative instrument
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Technical support
Learning from experience:
Member State policies: fragmented and inconsistent, considerable policy gaps - scope for cost reduction
Other OECD countries: New-Zealand, Australia, US and Canada - better streamlined
MS and OECD-countries provide best practices to be considered at the EU-level
information on costs and benefits of IAS policy measures
Dedicated legislative instrument
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Problem tree
Dedicated legislative instrument
Human travel Other trade
Release in the wild
Containedholding + escape
Contaminant in commodity+ escape
Stowaway in transport vector+ escape
Dispersal throughmanmadecorridor
Secondary dispersal in the environment
Loss of biodiversity
Loss of ecosystemservices
Damage to humanhealth
Damage to the economy
Damage to animal health (*)
Damage to plant health (*)
Species tradeInfrastructure
(*) e.g. allergies to livestock or agricultural weed
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Dedicated legislative instrument
Solution tree
(1) Restrictions on trade/import/marketing/transport/holding
(3) Management of priority pathways
(4) Early warning rapid response system
Decreased damage
(5) Eradication, containment, control, restoration
General duty of care + liability
(2) Restrictions on release in the wild
A. Prevention
B. Earlywarning rapid response
C. Management…
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
From problems to solutions
A. Prevention1. Measures to trade/marketing/transport/holding
2. Restrictions on release in the wild
3. Pathway management
B. Early Warning and Rapid Response
C. Management and Restoration
Horizontal issues1. Communication and awareness raising
2. Liability and financing
Dedicated legislative instrument
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Exotic animals and the IAS legislation
Pathways of introduction of IAS in general
Trade and travel: species trade, contaminated commodities,
stowaway and hitchhikers, dispersal through man-made corridors
Vertebrate animals
Intentional release:
Hunting/angling
Restoration/conservation
Aquaculture (regulated)
Unintentional release (escape):
Pets/ornamental
Zoos/aquaria
Farming
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Exotic animals and the IAS legislation
Terrestrial vertebrates – breakdown by pathway
Data from DAISIE project - http://www.europe-aliens.org/
Exotic animals and the IAS legislation
Exotic animal – rules on trade, marketing, holding, releasing..
A. Prevention
In general no release into the wild
Considering exceptions or permit system for certain species
Trade/import/holding/marketing restrictions may be placed on the most harmful
IAS
Considering exceptions e.g. import or holding for ex-situ conservation, or
holding for pets already in possession
B. Early warning and rapid response
Surveillance needed for early warning and rapid response
Considering risk-oriented approach with focus around risk-areas
C. Management and restoration
Eradication, control or containment
with due consideration for animal welfare
All ideas still u
nder consideration!
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Further planning
Working groups Public conslutation
Interservice consultation
Stakeholder consultation
Feedback fromCouncil, CoR and SEC
Technicalsupport
MemberState consultation
Proposal
Working groups
Commission Communication
Public consultation
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
For updated information see:
DG Environment website
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm
CIRCA http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/ias/library?l=/general_information&vm=detailed&sb=Title
Contacts: [email protected] [email protected]
Towards an EU Strategy on IAS