Non-native species – GB Progress 2001-07

1. Non-native species – GB Progress 2001-07 Niall Moore Head of the GB Non-native Species Secretariat

2. Are invasive species amongst the big issues? Second biggest threat to biodiversity worldwide - Biggest threat on islands “The most important direct drivers of biodiversity loss and ecosystem service changes are habitat change …, climate change, invasive alien species, overexploitation, and pollution.” Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report

3. Non-native species in GB • In England - 2,721 non-native species • In Scotland – 988 non-native species • C. 70% vascular plants • Negative impacts • 71 moderately/highly negative in Scotland • 19 ‘strongly negative’ in England

4. International commitments • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) • Bern Convention • Ramsar Convention • European Birds Directive • European Habitats Directive (natural habitats and wild fauna and flora) • EC 2006 Communication on Halting Loss of Biodiversity by 2010

5. 2001 - Policy Review launched 2003 - Policy Review Group report 2003 - Govt response & consultation Progress 2001 - 2003

6. Policy Review report – 8 Recommendations • A single lead co-ordinating organisation • Comprehensive risk assessment • Develop codes of conduct • Targeted education and awareness • Revise and update existing legislation • Establish adequate monitoring and surveillance • Develop policies for control of established and new invasives • Forum for stakeholder engagement

7. Progress since 2003 • 2004 Stakeholder Forum established • 2004/5 Development of Risk Assessment methodology • 2005/6 NERC Act (s.50 sales ban, and s.51 codes of practice) • Co-ordination • 2005 – GB Programme Board established • 2006 - GB Programme Board Secretariat • GB Strategy Working Group

8. Key GB Mechanism Components

9. GB Programme Board • Leadership and oversight on non-native species policy • Co-ordination in delivering key strategic objectives • 10 members – all government

10. GB NNS Programme Board

11. GB Programme Board Secretariat • Niall Moore and Diane Owen • Provides the essential administrative support for the Programme Board, Stakeholder Forum, Working Groups, Risk Analysis Panel etc. • Drives implementation of actions decided by the Board • The key link between the Board and stakeholders • Industry, NGOs, NDPBs, Govt Agencies etc. • Expected to become a very important GB contact point

12. GB Strategy - development to date • Working group started in March 06 • Content considered at Stakeholder Forum • Draft strategy approved by Board in December • Ministerial approval in February • Public consultation on Strategy • March – May 2007 • Full implementation for 2010

13. Defra Policy leads JNCC SEERAD Plant Health Division Dept for Transport HM Revenue & Customs Natural England Environment Agency Network Rail Welsh Assembly Government Countryside Council for Wales Central Science Laboratory Wildlife & Countryside Link Scottish Environment Link Ornamental & Aquatic Trade Assn. Horticultural Trade Assn Prof Jeff Waage Maritime and Coastguard Agency Strategy Working Group members

14. Strategy covers: 49 Key actions cover • Prevention • Early detection, surveillance, monitoring and rapid response • Mitigation, control and eradication • Building awareness and understanding • Legislation • Research • Information exchange and integration

15. Important strategy policy linkages • Plant Health Strategy • Animal Health & Welfare Strategy • Wildlife Health Strategy • International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments • Biodiversity Action Planning

16. Risk Analysis • Risk analysis panel established – Dec 2006 • Horizon Scanning • RA will underpin • Decision making • Prioritisation • Risk management options

17. Monitoring and surveillance • Scoping study 2007 • BRC/BTO/MBA • Aim - to make recommendations on comprehensive NNS monitoring scheme for GB • Established NNS • Interceptions

18. Rapid Intervention • Rapid response is key • Saves resources: • Water Primrose - 10K • (J. Knotweed – 1.5 Billion) • Minimises impact • Bullfrogs and chytrid fundus

19. Programme started in Autumn 2005 Population – 4,411 18 months later 900 remain Team of 10 staff 5 years duration Cull programmes France, Spain, (Portugal, Morocco, Denmark, Iceland) Large-scale Control: Ruddy Duck eradication

20. Ruddy ducks: the pan-European campaign

21. Engagement with stakeholders • Govt. does not have all the answers • Despite out-numbering others 10: 1 • “Talk to industry don't just talk about industry!” • Engage from the start • Defra-led review did not for many months • Informal consultations are extremely useful for both sides • Include stakeholders in all processes • Avoids feelings of exclusion • Treat all sectors equally at meetings

22. Stakeholder engagement 2 • "Everyone contributed to causing the problem and everyone needs to be part of the solution" • This includes Government • Is government implementing what it expects others to do? • Horticulture code of Practice

23. Stakeholder engagement (GB, to date) • Stakeholder Forum • NGO and Industry input • Talks • Workshops • Sounding Board • For semi-formal consultations • In advance of PB meetings • Regular meetings with stakeholders • Secretariat website www.nonnativespecies.org • Public Awareness Working Group

24. Stakeholder engagement: achievements • GB Strategy – high degree of agreement • Industry, Conservation NGOs and Govt. • Pre-consultations prior to legislating • Codes of Practice • Good industry engagement • Horticulture – 2005 • Companion animal – in progress • Practical results – • OATA Plastic bags – • ‘Ornamental fish and plants bought for aquariums and ponds must never be released into the wild’ • Over 1,000,000 bags to public annually

25. Policy Review report -Key Recommendations: • A single lead co-ordinating organisation  • Comprehensive risk assessment  • Develop codes of conduct In Progress • Targeted education and awareness • Revise and update existing legislation In Progress • Establish adequate monitoring and surveillance In Progress • Develop policies for control of established and new invasives • Forum for stakeholder engagement 

26. Pause for thought… • GB administrations will establish the “big machinery” • Risk Analysis • Comprehensive monitoring • Better prevention measures • Strategic research • Increased public awareness • Legislation • Responsibility for addressing the impacts of invasive non-native species is shared – not all down to government to fix • Successful strategy implementation needs strong stakeholder commitment and partnerships

28. Convention on Biological Diversity:- Article 8 – In Situ Conservation: • (h) Prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species; Decision VI/23 called, inter alia, for: • National strategies and plans • Adopted the Guiding Principles, the second of which sets out the 3 stage hierarchical approach: (i) prevention; (ii) early detection and rapid reaction and (iii) eradication, containment and long term control

29. Bern Convention:- Under article 11(2), each Contracting Party undertakes: • to strictly control the introduction of non-native species. European Strategy on Invasive Alien Species, by Genovesi and Shine published in 2003.

30. Ramsar Convention:- Resolution VIII.18 on Invasive Species and Wetlands, amongst other actions, calls for: • Risk assessments and, • Development and implementation of national strategies. Operational objective 5 of the 2003 – 2008 Ramsar Strategic Plan is wholly concerned with invasive alien species

31. EU Birds and Habitats Directives:- • Article 11 Birds Directive: Member states shall see that any introduction of species of bird which do not occur naturally in the wild state in the European territory of the member states does not prejudice the local flora and fauna. • Article 22(b) Habitats Directive: ensure that the deliberate introduction into the wild of any species which is not native to their territory is regulated so as not to prejudice natural habitats within their natural range or the wild native fauna and flora and, if they consider it necessary, prohibit such introduction.