EU strategy on invasive alien species Progress report on the European work toward a EU strategy on invasive alien species Piero Genovesi Co-ordination Group for Biodiversity and Nature 6th meeting Brussels, 16 October 2009

EU decisions and commitments Communication on Biodiversity, May 2006: “Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 and beyond” IAS as key priority area of “EU Action Plan to 2010 and beyond” Objective 5: To substantially reduce the impact of invasive alien species and alien genotypes 4 actions required in Action Programme: to assess gaps and develop an EU strategy to address IAS Member States to develop national strategies Member States ratification of Ballast Water Convention to establish an early warning system 6th meeting CGBN

EU decisions and commitments Communication on Biodiversity, November 2008: "Towards an EU Strategy on Invasive Species" Proposes 4 options A) Business as usual B) Maximising the use of existing legal instruments together with voluntary measures B+) Adapted existing legislation C) Comprehensive, dedicated EU legal instrument EU Strategy established by 2010 In the meantime, EC will examine the possibility of setting up an Early Warning and Information System 6th meeting CGBN

Results of EU-funded programs In last 15 years, EU funded - through LIFE and RTD - over 300 projects, for a total budget > € 132 millions. These programs have permitted to: Identify trends of invasions Establish reference lists of invasive alien species Identify correlates of invasions, major pathways, etc Develop assisted procedures to assess risks Improve management techniques 6th meeting CGBN

Results of EC funded assessments “Scope option for EU action on invasive alien species” (IEEP 2006): Assessed EC legal and policy framework Identified gaps Proposed changes and options for future work “Technical support to EU strategy on IAS” (IEEP 2009) Estimates costs of IAS in Europe (> € 12 bln/yr) Identifies policy options Discusses costs/benefits of the options 6th meeting CGBN

Examples of work done by Member States 20 states or regions are included in the NOBANIS network, an information platform on IS GB Non-native Species Board and Secretariat have developed: thematic portal risk assessment protocols national inventory of IS, with list of regulated species Italian Min. Environment has committed to support ISSG Global Invasive Species Database, that will soon be hosted at the Institute for Environmental Research and Protection 6th meeting CGBN

Work done by EEA EEA commissioned a feasibility study for developing a European Early Warning and Rapid Response framework Results of the study indicate that: Europe has an adequate basis of data and tools to support an EWRR The costs to develop an European EWRR may range from € 500,000 to 6,000,000 6th meeting CGBN

Opinions by other bodies 48. considers that only a European level strategy for combating invasive species can hope to be effective 6th meeting CGBN

Opinions by other bodies 6.2.2 The Committee is convinced that the best way to tackle the threat of IS would be through the adoption of a comprehensive, dedicated EU legal instrument as well as the establishment of a new European Agency. 6th meeting CGBN

G8 Environment: Carta di Siracusa “…. Among the priority actions to implement are early warning and rapid response” 6th meeting CGBN

EU Council Conclusions 25th June 2009 Urgent need for an EU strategy on invasive alien species, based on CBD guiding principles, Bern “European Strategy on IAS”, Plant Health framework Cooperation of all MS and the EC in addressing IAS issues, and to develop jointly an information system for early warning and rapid response 6th meeting CGBN