Invasive Alien Species in Germany and in International Conventions and the Role of Botanic Gardens

1. Invasive Alien Species in Germany and in International Conventions and the Role of Botanic Gardens Frank Klingenstein

3. 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

4. Geographical Isolation asBasis for Evolution = Diversity varieties of Great Tit (Parus major)

6. 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)

7. suppression by alien species Reasons for Threat to the German Flora

8. Spread of Agriculture in Europe [Benecke 1994]

9. 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

10. 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)

11. (un)intended introductions • 50 % unintended introductions •  trade and traffic 50 % intended introductions 30% ornamental plants20 % usful plants for forestry and agriculture

12. 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

13. max. 50 Neophytes in Germany  3.383  988

14. Disc Mayweed; Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea) escaped from BG Berlin in 1825 „alien“  „bad“ need for criteria

15. + = Invasiveness = Ecological Threat • increased consumption by predators • competition for habitats or resources • change of ecological conditions • „genetic pollution”

16. Economic Damage e.g. alien weeds Galinsoga ciliata escaped from BG Breslau ~ 1850 Galinsoga (Galinsoga parviflora) escaped from BG Paris in 1800

17. Threat to Human Health e.g. toxic plants

18. 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

19. Common Field Speedwell (Veronica persica)escaped from BG Karlsruhe in 1805

20. Botanic Garden and Museum Berlin-Dahlem (BGBM) 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.“ Most important garden in Germany and one of the largest in the world Small Balsam (Impatiens parviflora)escaped from BG Berlin in 1837

21. Ecologic-Botanic Garden of Bayreuth: build since 1978 24 ha due to decreasing budget huge +/- wild areas

22. like 17 other species assessed in 2001: Cephalaria alpinaCephalaria giganteaEchinops exaltatusCerinthe minorDoronicum pardalianchesEuphorbia polychromaGeum coccineumGeum japonicumScabiosa banaticaEryngium giganteumInula magnificaLychnis coronariaVerbascum olympicumCollomia linearisOenothera spp.Solidago flexicaulisSolidago graminifolia Duchesnea indica (Indian Strawberry) sold as garden plant since 1850spreading in BG Bayreuth since 1984escaped from BG Bielefeld 1974

23. 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 ....

24. Insects etc. for biological pest control: Nowadays only reproducing in greenhouses But what will happen with climatic change?

25. 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

26. 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

27. International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) International standard for phytosanitary measures 11 (2003):Risk assessment for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental risks

28. 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)

29. Guiding Principles on IASDecision VI/23 • Guiding principle 10: Intentional introduction • 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

30. Guiding Principles on IASDecision VI/23 • Guiding principle 10: Intentional introduction • No intentional introduction of an alien species already invasive or potentially invasive should take place without authorizationfrom 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

31. Guiding Principles on IASDecision VI/23 • Guiding principle 10: Intentional introduction • No intentional introduction of an alien species already invasive or potentially invasive should take place without authorizationfrom 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

32. . 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 Dimension of seed exchange  seed exchange is the main source for BG’s

33. 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.)

35. 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

36. www.neophyten.de • basic information on alien plants in Germany • handbook with data sheets for 30 invasive species • discussion forum for these species

37. 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

38. Early Warning System • intended extension of the existing forum and floristic mapping activities 2003 vor 1950 1980

39. Thank you for your attention