Invasive Species Ireland

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Invasive Species Ireland
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What is an Invasive Alien Species?

• Invasive species are organisms (usually
  transported by humans) which successfully
  establish themselves in, and then overcome,
  otherwise intact, pre-existing native ecosystems
• How do they do this?

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Dilution of Unique Genetic Heritage
Native Red deer (Cervus elaphus)
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Dilution of Unique Genetic Heritage
Non native Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides
hispanica)
Native Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
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Habitat Degradation by Herbivores
Non native Sika deer impact on woodlands
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Habitat Degradation by Herbivores
Potential introduction of Asian Longhorn Beetle
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Displacement by Competition
Vs
Grey squirrel
Red squirrel
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Displacement by Competition
Potential impacts from Undaria pinnatifida
if/when it arrives in Ireland
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Predation
Non native New Zealand Flatworm (Arthurdendyus
triangulatus)
Native earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) at risk
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Parasites and pathogens
Non native Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus
leniusculus) host to Crayfish Plague (Aphanomyces
astaci )
Endangered white clawed crayfish
(Austropotamobius pallipes)
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Habitat alteration
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Economic Impacts
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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

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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
• Water Framework Directive

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Invasive Species in Ireland Review

• 10 key recommendations
• Reducing risk
• Responding to new invasions
• Control and management of established invasive
  species
• Legislative requirements
• Monitoring risks and problems
• Agri-environment schemes
• Education and raising awareness
• Community actions
• International actions
• Cross-border specialist group and agency

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Risk Assessment/Policy Development

• Requirement 1 Preparation of risk assessments,
  exclusion strategies and contingency plans for
  species that are likely to invade Ireland but are
  not yet known here
• Requirement 2 Preparation of risk assessments
  and management plans for established invasive
  species, taking into account the implications
  arising under new legislation and Directives

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Rapid Response Facilitation

• Requirement 3 Provide a rapid response
  facilitation in the event of a newly reported
  invasion or new occurrences of invasive species
  at the request of EHS or NPWS

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Stakeholder Engagement

• Requirement 4 Stakeholder engagement programme
  and Forum
• Requirement 5 Development of Codes of Practise
  in conjunction with stakeholders
• Requirement 6 Development and delivery of
  education and awareness programmes
• Requirement 7 Engagement with relevant
  Government Departments

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Monitoring, surveillance and recording

• Requirement 8 Recommend monitoring, surveillance
  and recording programmes

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Legislation

• Requirement 12 Review legislative provisions and
  make recommendations for improvements

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Review and outreach

• Requirement 9 Review the progress after 2 years
  and make recommendations for future work required
• Requirement 10 Organise conference with
  stakeholders and present findings and
  recommendations
• Requirement 11 Provide general advice in
  relation to invasive species work
• Requirement 13 Provide a short report on
  opportunities for partnership working and link
  into European and other funding to carry out
  invasive species work, both locally and at an
  all-Ireland level

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Invasive Species Forum

• Chaired by
• EHS and NPWS
• Stakeholder engagement
• 4 Focus groups
• Marine
• Freshwater
• Terrestrial
• Education and Awareness

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Risk Assessment/Policy Development

• Objectives
• Identify potential invaders and classify as high,
  medium and low risk
• Select top ten potential invaders
• Identify established invaders and classify as
  high, medium and low
• To select top ten established invaders

• Outputs
• Database of established and potential invasive
  species
• Risk Assessment protocol for Ireland
• Irelands most unwanted list
• Exclusion Strategies /Contingency plans
• Management plans

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Exclusion and Contingency Plans

• Aim
• Prevent arrival
• Put in place mechanisms to ensure rapid and
  effective response

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Management Plans

• Targeted at HRS
• Limited known distribution
• Identify best practise in control with the aim to
  eradicate
• Identify key stakeholders

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Best Practise Guidance

• Targeted at HRS
• Widely distributed in Ireland
• Identify best practise for control and local
  eradication
• Template management plans produced
• Japanese knotweed
• Giant Hogweed
• Himalayan Balsam
• Rhododendron and Cherry laurel

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Education and Awareness
Education Sector Initiatives
Website
General Public Awareness Raising
Codes of Practice
Target Group Specific Initiatives
Media and communications plan
National to local approach
Links to existing initiatives
Monitoring and evaluation
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Stakeholder Engagement

• Requirement 5
• Development of Codes of Practice in conjunction
  with stakeholders
• Step 1 Identification of key stakeholders
• Step 2 Identification of best practice
• Step 3 Engagement in Consultative Forum
• Step 4 Development of Codes of Practice

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Engagement with stakeholders

• Govt. does not have all the answers
• Talk to industry don't just talk about
  industry!
• Engage from the start
• Informal consultations are extremely useful for
  both sides
• Include stakeholders in all processes
• Avoids feelings of exclusion
• Treat all sectors equally at meetings

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Vector Sectors
Game rearing
Agriculture
Landscaping
Angling
Boat Trade
Non-food Animal Trade
Plant Trade
Pet and Aquaria Trade
Tourism
Aquaculture
Horticulture
Game rearing
Food Importers
Food Importers
Tourism
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Making the CoP work

• Aims
• Voluntary code promoting types of behaviour
• Shared responsibilities
• Never deliberately introduce non-native species
• Know what you carry from one water body to
  another
• Inform people about vector pathways
• Report sightings of aquatic invasive species
• Link to new Invasive species of Ireland website
• Making the code work
• Highlight opportunities for stakeholders and
  organisations to influence the development and
  implementation of the CoP

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What can you do?

• Talk about invasive alien species.
• Follow guidance and codes of practice documents
  for various species.
• Do not disturb invasive species.
• Might cause them to spread.
• See guidance documents on www.invasivespeciesirela
  nd.com for information on how to eradicate some
  high impact species.
• Always clean equipment before leaving a site or
  waterbody.
• Dont be afraid to tell someone they have an
  invasive species on their property.

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What can you do?

• Become a member of the Invasive Species in
  Ireland Forum
• Sign up to the mailing list
• Be part of the surveillance programme - submit
  records and report sightings
• Help develop and disseminate the education and
  awareness materials

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More information can be found at

• www.invasivespeciesireland.com