Invasive Species In Asia:

1. Invasive Species In Asia: A Management Challenge to Sustainable Crop Production Wai-Hong LOKE, CABI SEA

2. Invasive Species Presentation • Introduction to invasive species (IS) and context • Invasive species - a management challenge • Effects and consequences • Addressing the problem • About CABI and IAS • Summary

3. 1. Introduction to Invasive Species • Invasive species are plants, animals or micro-organisms that are not native to a specific ecosystem and whose introduction threatens biodiversity, food security, health or economic development. • 55

4. Global / Regional Context • Occur in all major taxonomic groups of biological organisms • One of greatest threats to ecological and economic well-being of planet • Direct and indirect effects are serious and often irreversible • Serious problems in many economic and health sectors • Trade-related IS problem to market access vis-à-vis WTO • IS cost > $1 trillion per annum (nearly 5% global GDP) • Increasing – travel, trade, transport, tourism • Exacerbation by climate change • Lack of biosecurity planning against IS • Global in scope and requires international cooperation to supplement actions at national and local levels

5. Protecting wild flora No more trade restriction than necessary LMOs identified as pests WTO-SPS Trade while protecting biodiversity International Regulatory Framework Plant Protection IPPC CP LMOs CBD Protecting biological diversity Trade

6. Some of the Asia’s Worst IS • Banana bunchy top virus • Papaya ring-spot virus • Water hyacinth (Eichhorniacrassipes) • Giant mimosa (Mimosa pigra) • Golden apple snail (Pomaceacanaliculata) • Sweet potato whitefly (Bemisiatabaci / argentifolii) • Fruit Flies (Bactrocera spp.) • Rice planthoppers (Nilaparvata, Nephotettix) • Serious management challenges

7. 2. IS – A Management Challenge General Traits/Characteristics of a Successful IAS • Large reproductive output • Rapid growth rate • Efficient dispersal capabilities • No / lack of natural enemies • Broad environmental tolerance

8. An Important Management Consideration “Pathways” the means by which an invasive species is moved

9. “The 4 T’s” • Trade (expanded) • Travel (faster) • Transport (further) • Tourism (increased)

10. TRADE Packing materials Planting materials Cut-flowers

11. TRAVEL

12. TRANSPORTATION

13. Climate change rising temperature, air humidity, CO2, N2O, CH4., rainfall, fire risks Crop Weed community Pest complex changes in soil water / nutrient dynamics

14. Effect of higher temperatures on crop yields adapted by Norgrove from IPCC (2007), summarising 69 studies < 3 oC increase higher yields in temperate zones > 3 oC increase lower yields in temperate zones Any increase lower yields in tropics

15. Predicted crop yield declines in the Tropics Furthermore, • Climate change will alter pest / crop / soil dynamics • Ranges of some pests may expand to higher altitudes & latitudes • More extreme climatic disturbances will create opportunities for pest colonisation and establishment

16. 3. Effects of IS • Competition with native taxa of flora and fauna • Hybridization with genetically closespecies • Changes in physical & chemicalcharacteristics of soil • Modification of natural and semi-natural habitats • Disruption of ecosystem services • Propagation of pests and diseases

17. Consequences: Environmental Waterhyacinth Introduced from Latin America as ornamental plant, has eliminated more than 10 native aquatic plant species and more than 15 native freshwater fishes in Lake Rawapening,Indonesia (Soerjani, 1982, 1996)

18. Consequences – Environmental • One of top drivers of environmental change • Great threat to species composition of ecosystems • Second to habitat loss in biodiversity disruption • Cascading effect on biological systems / food chains • Deplete natural resources, e.g. water • Disrupt ecosystem services • One of most serious environmental challenges

19. Consequences: Economic Golden Apple Snail Introduced from Latin America as a high protein food source, the golden apple snail caused losses to Philippine rice crops during the 1980’s of $1 billion (Naylor 1996)

20. Consequences – Economic • Significant damage / losses in key economic sectors, e.g. agriculture, forestry • Impact on food security • Barriers to sustainable development • Impediments to trade • Significant costs in control operations / inputs • Issues of compensation in quarantine situations

21. 4. Addressing the Problem • Goals: • Prevention • Early Detection • Eradication • Control • Restoration

22. Addressing the Problem Processes: • Risk Assessment and Management • Research • Monitoring • Publicity and Education • Policy and Regulation • Information Management • Measure Accomplishments Multi-agency / stakeholder cooperation, collaboration and capacity building are essential

23. Addressing the Problem Scientific Challenges: • Complexity • Uncertainty • Mobility • (both invaders and pathways) • Time lags

24. Addressing the Problem Political Challenges: • Lack of awareness • Mustering resources • Lack of coordination • Speed of operations • Conflicting policies, policy gaps • High costs / financial issues

25. Addressing the Problem Ethical Challenges: • Animal rights • Risks of pesticides • Risks of biological control • GMOs

26. Ten Strategic Responses to Manage IS Element 1 Build management capacity Element 2 Build research capacity Element 3 Promote sharing of information Element 4 Develop economic policies and tools Element 5 Strengthen national, regional and international legal and institutional frameworks Element 6 Institute system of environmental risk analysis Element 7 Build public awareness and engagement Element 8 Prepare national strategies and plans Element 9 Build IAS issues into global change initiatives Element 10 Promote regional/international cooperation to deal with the problems of invasive alien species

27. 5. About CABI • Established in 1910 • Not-for-profit status • Owned by 45 member countries • Multicultural staff based in 16 countries worldwide • Global leader in scientific publishing, research consultancy, science communication and project delivery • Bioscience & Health Databases, abstract journals, books, CD-Rom and web-based products • Some 300 development assistance projects in 70 countries

28. CABI’s and Invasive Species • Track record – e.g. 100 years expertise • Effectiveness – through global network of centres • Status – intergovernmental, independent • Information – abstracts, compendia, e-portals, etc. • Diagnostics – Global Plant Clinic / PlantWise Alliance • Facilities – 3rd country quarantine • Leadership – policy, strategy, control

29. Influencing Global Policy & Practice • Founding member of GISP • Put invasive species on global agenda • MoU with CBD • GISP recognised, supported by COP • Working with IPPC • Crop Protection Compendium – PRA • Technical assistance strategy • Working with other key bodies • GISIN • IUCN • TNC • AAFC • USDA

30. Solving Invasive Species Problems • Green muscle – a mycopesticide for locust control on the market; research to product development • Cocoa pod borer in PNG • Coffee berry borer in PNG and Papua & Sulawesi • Biological control of invasive weeds, e.g. Mikania using rust fungi • Capacity building in trade-related IS

31. Green Muscle can be used to control Z. variegatus, Schistocercia gregaria, the desert locust and other hoppers • Green Muscle is an environmentally-friendly mycoinsecticide of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum developed by the collaborative LUBILOSA project comprising CABI, IITA, GTZ & CILSS/ AGRHYMET.. • Commercialised by Biological Control Products SA (Pty) Ltd, South Africa Management options:Green Muscle® Desert locust infected with Green Muscle ®

32. e.g. Cocoa Pod Borer in PNG • a SE Asian problem • an ACIAR-CABI-PNG project • incursion and emergency response program support , IPM and FPTR in PNG • draws on our experience in IPM in Malaysia

33. e.g. Coffee Berry Borer in PNG • a global coffee problem • an ACIAR-CABI-PNG-Indonesia project • management of the pest in Papua and Sulawesi provinces of Indonesia, • prevention and emergency response in PNG • draws on our experience in CBB IPM worldwide

34. e.g. biological control of Mikania • Mikania micrantha – “mile-a-minute weed” • using a co-evolved neo-tropical rust pathogen, • Puccinia spegazzinii • imported from S. & Central America, evaluated in • CABI UK, released in India 2005 • P. spegazzini going to China, Taiwan, Fiji

35. e.g. APEC Workshops • Three projects – logical sequence in capacity • Building of trade-related IS: • awareness in biosecurity planning • pest surveillance according to ISPM No. 6 • diagnostics for whiteflies, thrips, mealybugs and leafminers

36. Forging IS Management Synergies through…. • Active support for and participation in many key IS-related events (World Conservation Congress, COP, IS conferences, etc.) • Partnerships with relevant global and regional bodies (GISP, IUCN, IPPC, CBD, GISIN, APFISN, APEC, etc.) • Collaborating with and backstopping regional initiatives and national programs (SPSCBP, AADCP, NZAID, China-CMIAS, Malaysia-MOA, PNG-CCI/CIC/NAQIA, etc) • Focused projects in developing CABI MCs, e.g. PNG, China • Working with international consortium on a global ISC • Co-organising international/regional IS meetings (ICBI2009)

37. 6. Summary • IS are a significant and growing threat • Impact trade, environment and agriculture - sustainable economic development • Global dimensions – treaties, conventions • Capacity issues, specific problems • Expertise, track record, intergovernmental status - CABI an ideal partner

38. Thank you