Transcript Invasive alien species and the role of botanic gardens

Invasive Alien Species in
Germany and in International
Conventions and the Role of
Botanic Gardens
Frank Klingenstein
Nature conservation and phytosanitary
measures: The German federal perspective
and activities on IAS
1) Biological globalisation:
a) global situation
b) situation in Germany
2) Categories of alien species and criteria for
invasiveness
3) Botanic Gardens and alien species
4) International law and policies on alien species and
their impact on Botanic Gardens
5) Options for co-operation
6) National activities in Germany
Geographical Isolation as
Basis for Evolution = Diversity
varieties of Great Tit
(Parus major)
Reasons for Extinction of
Animals since 1600
hunting
23%
alien species
39%
others
2%
destruction of habitats
36%
source: World Conservation Monitoring Centre, „Global Biodiversity“ (1992)
Reasons for Threat
to the German Flora
suppression by
alien species
Spread of Agriculture in Europe
[Benecke 1994]
59 (~10%) of 653 threatened species
in Germany are aliens
(archaeophytes
~ 20 % of all archaeophytes are
threatened
 archaeophytic alien
species are often of
special concern for
conservation
Beginning of Biological Globalisation
intended introductions
„It disturbs me that I do not know all these herbs, bushes and plants,
which may be very valuable for use as dyes, medicine or spices.
I will take home samples of most of them.“ (18.10.1492)
(un)intended introductions
50 % intended
introductions
30% ornamental plants
20 % usful plants for
forestry and agriculture
50 % unintended
introductions
 trade and traffic
Biological Globalisation:
the Case of Hawaii
natural migration:
1 species in 50.000 years = 1.200 species
Polynesian settlers 1.400 years ago:
1 species in 30 years = 45 new species
since the discovery by Cook in 1778:
1 species in 2 months = 1.000 new species
The biomass of alien species
exceeds that of indigenous species
Silversword
(Argyroxiphium sandwicense)
source: Davis et al. 1995, WWF & IUCN
Neophytes in Germany
69
58
Archaeophytes
Neophytes
Indigenous
 3.383
383
228
363
363
115
max. 50
2272
 988
established
locally established
in establishment
+/- regular occurence
rare occurence
„alien“  „bad“
 need for criteria
Disc Mayweed; Pineapple Weed
(Matricaria discoidea)
escaped from BG Berlin in 1825
Invasiveness = Ecological Threat
 increased consumption by
predators
 competition for habitats or
resources
 change of ecological
conditions
 „genetic
pollution”
+
=
Economic Damage
e.g. alien weeds
Galinsoga ciliata
escaped from
BG Breslau ~ 1850
Galinsoga
(Galinsoga parviflora)
escaped from
BG Paris in 1800
Threat to Human Health
e.g. toxic plants
Nature conservation and phytosanitary
measures: The German federal perspective
and activities on IAS
1) Biological globalisation:
a) global situation
b) situation in Germany
2) Categories of alien species and criteria for
invasiveness
3) Botanic Gardens and alien species
4) International law and policies on alien species and
their impact on Botanic Gardens
5) Options for co-operation
6) National activities in Germany
Common Field Speedwell
(Veronica persica)
escaped from BG Karlsruhe in 1805
Botanic Garden and Museum
Berlin-Dahlem (BGBM)
Most important garden in Germany
and one of the largest in the world
Call for eradication of Saxon
Botanists (~1940):
„Like bolschewism endangers our
occidental culture, this Mongolian
invader as a crucial element of
this culture threatens the beauty of
our native forests.“
Small Balsam (Impatiens parviflora)
escaped from BG Berlin in 1837
Ecologic-Botanic Garden of
Bayreuth:
build since 1978
24 ha
due to decreasing budget
huge +/- wild areas
like 17 other species
assessed in 2001:
Cephalaria alpina
Cephalaria gigantea
Echinops exaltatus
Cerinthe minor
Doronicum pardalianches
Euphorbia polychroma
Geum coccineum
Geum japonicum
Scabiosa banatica
Eryngium giganteum
Inula magnifica
Lychnis coronaria
Verbascum olympicum
Collomia linearis
Oenothera spp.
Solidago flexicaulis
Solidago graminifolia
Duchesnea indica
(Indian Strawberry)
sold as garden plant since 1850
spreading in BG Bayreuth since 1984
escaped from BG Bielefeld 1974
Reticulitermes flavipes
Origin: North America
described 1837 from greenhouses in BG
Schönbrunn, Vienna
since 1955 reproducing in Hamburg and
damaging buildings etc.
... and other unintended species e.g. in soil ....
Insects etc. for
biological pest
control:
Nowadays only
reproducing in
greenhouses
But what will
happen with
climatic
change?
Nature conservation and phytosanitary
measures: The German federal perspective
and activities on IAS
1) Biological globalisation:
a) global situation
b) situation in Germany
2) Categories of alien species and criteria for
invasiveness
3) Botanic Gardens and alien species
4) International law and policies on alien species and
their impact on Botanic Gardens
5) Options for co-operation
6) National activities in Germany
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES; 1973)
Implementation in the European Union (EC 338/97):
§ 3 (2) d: Export and trade of species may be limited, if they endanger
biodiversity in the importing country
International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC)
International standard for phytosanitary measures 11 (2003):
Risk assessment for quarantine pests including analysis of
environmental risks
Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD; Rio 1992)
§ 8 h: Contracting parties shall ...
prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien
species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species
Guiding Principles for invasive alien species (2002)
precautionary, three-stage approach
(prevention, control, management)
Guiding Principles on IAS
Decision VI/23
Guiding principle 10: Intentional introduction
1. No intentional introduction of an alien species already invasive or
potentially invasive should take place without authorization from an
authority. A risk analysis should be carried out to authorize an
introduction. The burden of proof should be with the proposer of the
introduction. Authorization may be accompanied by conditions (e.g.,
monitoring procedures, payment for assessment and management).
2. Lack of scientific certainty should not prevent an authority to prevent
the [introduction]
"intentional introduction" refers to the movement and/or release by humans
outside of its natural range
Guiding Principles on IAS
Decision VI/23
Guiding principle 10: Intentional introduction
1. No intentional introduction of an alien species already invasive or
potentially invasive should take place without authorization from an
authority. A risk analysis should be carried out to authorize an
introduction. The burden of proof should be with the proposer of the
introduction. Authorization may be accompanied by conditions (e.g.,
monitoring procedures, payment for assessment and management).
2. Lack of scientific certainty should not prevent an authority to prevent
the [introduction]
"intentional introduction" refers to the movement and/or release by humans
outside of its natural range
Guiding Principles on IAS
Decision VI/23
Guiding principle 10: Intentional introduction
1. No intentional introduction of an alien species already invasive or
potentially invasive should take place without authorization from an
authority. A risk analysis should be carried out to authorize an
introduction. The burden of proof should be with the proposer of the
introduction. Authorization may be accompanied by conditions (e.g.,
monitoring procedures, payment for assessment and management).
2. Lack of scientific certainty should not prevent an authority to prevent
the [introduction]
"intentional introduction" refers to the movement and/or release by humans
outside of its natural range
Dimension of seed exchange
for the 95 BG‘s in Germany p.a.
receipt of seeds: 79.983
supply of seeds: 260.010
________________________________
326.000 transactions
3.400 per garden
 seed exchange is the main source for BG’s
Contribution of Botanic Gardens to IAS-activities
 PRACTICAL experience with the cultivation =
“attitude” of alien plants in “new” countries (e.g. for
risk assessments)
 voluntary measures concerning the exchange or
cultivation of invasive alien plants
 building public awareness as reliable multipliers
 scientific knowledge on ecology and distribution of
plants as basis for conservation measures (e.g. black
lists, eradication etc.)
Activities in Germany
 National Strategy on IAS to implement the Guiding
Principles of the CBD by suggesting
harmonization of legislation and measures
cooperation / responsibilities of stakeholders
 Information networking with regional conservation
authorities and all other interested stakeholders by
mailing lists
www.neophyten.de
 basic information
on alien plants in
Germany
 handbook with
data sheets for 30
invasive species
 discussion forum
for these species
www.floraweb.de
 up to 55 characteristics on taxonomy, morphology, ecology, threat, etc.
 including degree of naturalisation
 distribution maps on the basis of the national floristic mapping program
 photos
 for all 3.500 wild growing vascular plants in Germany
Early Warning System
intended extension of the existing
forum and floristic mapping activities
vor 1950
1980
2003
Thank you
for your attention