Transcript IAS - Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals

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
Invasive Alien Species (IAS)
 Transport across ecological barriers
 Negative impacts on biodiversity, human health and the economy
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
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Context
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
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Context
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
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Action 15:
Biodiversity concerns in EU Animal and Plant Health
UNDERGOING
REVISION IN 2012
PLANT HEALTH
REGIME
ANIMAL HEALTH
REGIME
WILDLIFE TRADE
REGULATION
IAS
Habitats and Birds
Directives
Marine Strategy
DIRECTIVE
AQUACULTURE
REGULATION
Water Framework
DIRECTIVE
Action 16: Dedicated legislative instrument
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=d
etailed&sb=Title

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Dedicated legislative instrument
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
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Dedicated legislative instrument
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
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Dedicated legislative instrument
Problem tree
Damage to
plant
health (*)
Damage to
animal
health (*)
Damage to
human
health
Damage to
the
economy
Loss of
ecosystem
services
Loss of
biodiversity
Secondary dispersal in the environment
Dispersal through
manmade
corridor
Infrastructure
Stowaway in
transport vector
+ escape
Contaminant
in commodity
+ escape
Human travel
Other trade
(*) e.g. allergies tolivestock or agriculturalweed
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Contained
holding +
escape
Release
in the
wild
Species trade
Dedicated legislative instrument
Solution tree
Decreased damage
(5) Eradication, containment, control, restoration
(4) Early warning rapid response system
(3) Management of
priority pathways
General duty of
care + liability
(2) Restrictions on
release in the wild
(1) Restrictions on trade/import/marketing/transport/holding
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
C. Management…
B. Early warning
rapid response
A. Prevention
Dedicated legislative instrument
From problems to solutions
A. Prevention
1. 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 issues
1. Communication and awareness raising
2. Liability and financing
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/
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
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
Further planning
Working groups
Public conslutation
Technical
support
2008
Commission
Communication
Feedback from
Council, CoR and SEC
Stakeholder consultation
Member
State
consultation
Working groups
2009
2010
2011
Interservice consultation
Public
consultation
2012
Proposal
http://biodiversity.europa.eu
Towards an EU Strategy on IAS
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_informatio
n&vm=detailed&sb=Title
 Contacts:

[email protected]

[email protected]
http://biodiversity.europa.eu