Download Policy and Legislation – non-native and invasive species

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Policy and Legislation – non-native and invasive species
The importance of the threat of invasive species is reflected in a suite of international,
European and national policy and legislation. Brief details on a selection of some of the
more pertinent policy and legislation is given, it is not a comprehensive listing.
International
The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at their tenth
meeting set out a Strategic Plan for Biodiversity with 20 headline targets for 2020 organized
under five strategic goals. The mission of the Strategic Plan is to ―take effective and urgent
action to halt the loss of biodiversity in order to ensure that by 2020 ecosystems are
resilient and continue to provide essential services, thereby securing the planet‘s variety of
life, and contributing to human well-being, and poverty eradication. Target 9 states:
By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species
are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their
introduction and establishment.
http://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/rationale/target-9/
European
The European Commission also adopted an ambitious new strategy to halt the loss of
biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020. The ‘Our life insurance, our natural
capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020’ contains six main targets, and 20 actions to
help Europe reach its goal. Target 5 covers: Tighter controls on invasive alien species. It is
further stated as being:
By 2020, Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and their pathways are identified and prioritized,
priority species are controlled or eradicated, and pathways are managed to prevent the
introduction and establishment of new IAS.
This target is support by two specific actions:
Action 15: Strengthen the EU Plant and Animal Health Regimes – The Commission will
integrate additional biodiversity concerns into the Plant and Animal Health regimes by 2012.
Action 16: Establish a dedicated instrument on Invasive Alien Species – The Commission will
fill policy gaps in combating IAS by developing a dedicated legislative instrument by 2012.
View: EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020
On September 29th, 2014, the European Council adopted a Regulation on the prevention and
management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species [2013/0307 (COD)].
The Regulation, that is a binding legal tool for all Member States, entered into force January
1st 2015. The Regulation lays down rules to prevent, minimise and mitigate the adverse
impacts of the introduction and spread, both intentional and unintentional, of invasive alien
species on biodiversity and the related ecosystem services, as well as other adverse impact
on human health or the economy.
There will be a phased introduction of the requirements. Some milestones and key elements
are listed below:
•
List of alien invasive species of Union concern – reviewed every 6 years (proposed
•
Member States can request for inclusion of a species based on risk assessment
•
Functioning structures for Official controls (border controls, goods entry points)
list by 01/01/2016)
by 02/01/2016
•
Surveillance system by 18 months**
•
Pathway analysis (18 months**) and pathway action plans (3 years**)
•
Early detection issue of alert notification to Commission and other Member States
•
Rapid eradication within 3 months after alert notification.
•
Management measures put in place for widely spread species (by 12 months**)
•
Restoration of damaged ecosystems undertaken [proportionate]
•
Reporting (by 3 years*) and every 4 years* thereafter on – surveillance system,
distribution of species, action plans etc.
* Time from when the Regulations came into effect 01/01/2015. ** Time from
adoption of list of species of Union concern
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52013PC0620&from=EN
Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive [DIRECTIVE 2008/56/EC] came into force on 17
June 2008. The Directive aims to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) of the EU’s
marine waters by 2020 and to protect the resource base upon which marine-related
economic and social activities depend. In order to achieve its goal, the Directive establishes
European marine regions (the Baltic Sea, the North-east Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean
Sea and the Black Sea) and sub-regions on the basis of geographical and environmental
criteria.
In order to achieve GES by 2020, each Member State is required to develop a strategy for its
marine waters (or Marine Strategy) to be reviewed every 6 years. The MSFD does not state a
specific programme of measures that Member States should adopt to achieve GES, except
for the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The MSFD does however outline 11
high level descriptors of GES in Annex I of the Directive.
Descriptor 2 relates to non-native also known as non-indigenous species: Non-indigenous
species introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely alter the
ecosystems
More information on the Marine Directive: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/eucoast-and-marine-policy/marine-strategy-framework-directive/index_en.htm
Ireland’s Article 19 report (October
2013): www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Water/FileDownLoad,34365,en.pdf
Ireland
In 2011, the Republic of Ireland’s Actions for Biodiversity 2011-2016, Ireland’s 2ndNational
Biodiversity Plan was launched with 7 objectives, 21 targets and multiple actions.
Target 8 states that:
Harmful invasive alien species are controlled and there is reduced risk of spread of new
species.
There are 5 supporting actions listed for this under this target:
•
Prepare, by 2011, detailed species and pathway risk assessments and develop
exclusion and contingency plans for priority pathways and high impact species
that are likely to invade Ireland.
•
Continue and enhance measures for eradication, where feasible, control and
containment of invasive alien species.
•
Examine options for rapid response when new invasive alien species are
•
Increase awareness within the horticultural and constructed wetlands industries of
discovered.
native alternatives that can be used in place of invasive alien species.
•
All public bodies will endeavour to use native species, landraces and breeds and
the public will be encouraged to do so.
In September 2011, comprehensive regulations which address deficiencies in Irish
law implementing the EU Birds and Habitats Directives were signed into law. The European
Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 contain important new
provisions to address the problem of invasive species. A black list of unwanted species is
set out in the Regulations. It will be an offence without a licence, to release or allow to
disperse or escape, to breed, propagate, import, transport, sell or advertise such species.
Two regulations that deal specifically with these scheduled lists of species are:
Regulation 49: Prohibition on introduction and dispersal of certain species [view slide]
Regulation 50: Prohibition on dealing in and keeping certain species (Regulation 50 is not
yet in effect) [view slide]
View the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 [SI. 477]
If you have any queries on the above policy or legislation please [email protected] and we will try to provide additional information or
clarification. Otherwise, contact National Parks and Wildlife Service www.npws.ie/about-us
The National Biodiversity Data Centre is an Initiative of the Heritage Council and is operated under a service level
agreement by Compass Informatics.
The Centre is funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
© Invasive Species 2015