Transcript Toward a National Plan

Invasive Alien Species:
Toward a National Plan for
Canada
Workshop on Invasive Alien Species and the
International Plant Protection Convention
September 22-26, 2003
Braunschweig, Germany
Environment Canada
Presentation Outline
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Context
Canada’s response
Progress-to-date
Toward a national plan
Focus on Plants
Next steps
Invasives & the IPPC
Context - Definitions
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Alien species are species of plants, animals,
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Invasive alien species are those harmful
and micro-organisms introduced by human
action outside their natural past or present
distribution
alien species whose introduction or spread
threatens the environment, the economy, or
society, including human health
Context – Biodiversity
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Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
– Article 8(h): “...prevent the introduction of,
control or eradicate those alien species which
threaten ecosystems, habitat or species”
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Canadian Biodiversity Strategy (1995)
– Canadian response to the CBD
– 17 federal departments and all provinces and
territories
Context – Calls for action
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Commissioner on Environment and Sustainable
Development Invasive Species Audit (Oct 2002)
Government response to invasives that threaten
biodiversity is not comparable to plant & animal
health programs
Federal investment is inadequate and inaction is
leading to biodiversity loss
Environment Canada accepted the Audit
recommendations:
– coordinate a national action plan
– secure commitment of relevant departments
– monitor & report on effectiveness
Progress-to-date
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Joint meeting of resource Ministers’ councils:
wildlife, forests, and fisheries & aquaculture
– Draft plan requested by Ministers (Sept 01)
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Elements recommended by multi-stakeholder
National Workshop (Nov 01)
“Blueprint” approved and Thematic Working Groups
requested by Ministers (Sept 02)
Thematic Working Groups established (Dec 02 May 03)
Federal-Provincial-Territorial Workshop (Apr 03)
“Discussion document” approved-in-principle by
Ministers (Sept 03)
Toward a national plan
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Definitions
Scope
Rationale for action
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The invasive alien species problem
Environmental threats
Economic threats
Social and human health threats
Pathways of invasion
What is working well
Inadequacy of current invasive alien species
measures
– International progress & lessons learned
Toward a national plan
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3 strategic challenges:
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Integrate environmental considerations into
decision-making with economic and social
factors
Enhance coordination to respond more rapidly
to new invasions and pathways of invasion
Strengthen programs to protect natural
resources under pressure from increased
global trade and travel
Invasive Alien Species
Draft Policy and Management Framework
Scope
Leadership and Coordination
• lead federal Ministers
• federal coordinating mechanisms
• FPT coordinating network
• independent advisory committee
Prevent
• harmful intentional and
unintentional
introductions
Detect
1. Aquatic ecosystems
2. Terrestrial ecosystems
• native biodiversity
• domestic plants & animals
Respond
• and identify invaders
pre-border and upon
entry through
surveillance
• rapidly to new invaders
upon detection
Manage
• established and
spreading invaders
(eradicate, contain,
control & restore)
Risk Analysis
risk assessment + risk management + risk communication
Science
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surveillance
taxonomy
control methods
monitoring
research
Legislation
& Regulations
 coordinated
framework
Engaging
Canadians
• knowledge &
information
• education
• stewardship
International
Cooperation
• bilateral
• regional
• multi-lateral
Toward a National Plan
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Purpose
Vision
Principles & practices
Roles &
responsibilities
Strategic goals
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Prevention
Early detection
Rapid response
Eradication,
containment & control
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Implementation
strategies
– Risk analysis
– Science
– Legislation and
regulations
– Education and outreach
– International
cooperation
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Priority-setting criteria
Action plans
– Aquatics
– Animals
– Plants
Toward a National Plan
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Leadership & Coordination
– Recognize lead federal Ministers
– Establish interdepartmental committees for
coordination and decision making
– Establish an inter-jurisdictional coordination
mechanism and/or network
– Establish an independent multi-stakeholder
advisory committee to provide advice to
governments
Toward a National Plan
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Strategic Goal 1: Prevention
– Integrated risk assessment, consistent nationally
and internationally across sectors
– Mandatory assessment of all proposed
intentional introductions
– Enhanced capacity for risk assessment
– Coordinated federal risk management
– Management plans for high-risk commodities,
pathways, and vectors
– Research to develop predictive tools
– National public education and targeted outreach
initiatives
Toward a National Plan
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Strategic goal 2: Early detection
– Develop capacity for pre-border inspection at
sources/points of origin
– Surveying new and emerging pathways
– Develop a coordinated surveillance network that
includes a public monitoring component
– Enhance inspection capacity
– Establish a core capacity of taxonomic expertise
– Cooperate internationally to develop an
international network of diagnostic experts
Toward a National Plan
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Strategic goal 3: Rapid response
– Apply integrated risk assessment for newly
detected invasives for which contingency plans
have not been prepared
– Develop contingency/emergency response plans
– Develop contingency/emergency response
networks
– Ensure access to emergency funds to respond
rapidly to invasions upon detection
– Develop targeted education/outreach initiatives
to secure support for management measures
Toward a National Plan
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Strategic goal 4: Management (Eradication,
containment and control)
– Use risk assessment to prioritize and identify
options for managing well-established invaders
– Develop management plans to eradicate or
control priority invasive alien species
– Develop management plans in partnership with
stakeholders
– Conduct research on eradication, containment,
and control methods/technologies
– Develop restoration/recovery plans for
vulnerable ecosystems
Focus on Plants
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Terrestrial Plants Working Group on Invasive
Species
– Co-chairs and cross-sectoral membership
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ToR: invasive plants and all invasive alien species
that impact plants
– Plant pathogens/viruses, fungi, nematodes, insects, etc.
– Invasive alien plants (e.g. weeds)
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Policy priorities
– Clarifying accountabilities
– Risk analysis
– Coordination of surveillance
Focus on Plants
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Pathways, vectors
Within Canada &
internationally
Intentional &
unintentional
agricultural crops
nursery stock
restoration/remediation
ornamentals/seedlings
packing materials
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commodities: seed, forage,
food produce,
grains/birdseed, wood
products
spread/movement (e.g.
wind, water, livestock - incl.
transboundary)
hitchhikers on transport
aquarium trade
soil/sod/gravel
escapes from research,
botanical gardens, etc.
travel & tourism (incl.
baggage)
Internet & mail order
Next Steps
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Consultations to validate Framework (Fall 03)
Working groups to develop Action Plans (0304)
Initiate consultations (Spring 04)
Ministers to consider/approve draft National
Plan (Sept 04)
Implement National Plan (Sept 04 - ongoing)
Invasives & the IPPC
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Definition of IAS includes the concept of plant pest
IPPC approach is informing draft national plan
Draft national plan seeks to enhance capacity of
existing programs
Canada is committed to building on what is already
working well
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ISPM No. 11 – environmental risk assessment
Environment sector is increasingly interested in the
IPPC, and plant protection organizations are
increasingly interested in biodiversity
Environment sector will become more engaged in
the IPPC as we move from frameworks to action
plans