Invasive Alien Species: Toward a National Plan for Canada

1. Invasive Alien Species:Toward a National Plan for Canada Workshop on Invasive Alien Species and the International Plant Protection Convention September 22-26, 2003 Braunschweig, Germany Environment Canada

2. Presentation Outline • Context • Canada’s response • Progress-to-date • Toward a national plan • Focus on Plants • Next steps • Invasives & the IPPC

3. Context - Definitions • Alien species are species of plants, animals, and micro-organisms introduced by human action outside their natural past or present distribution • Invasive alien species are those harmful alien species whose introduction or spread threatens the environment, the economy, or society, including human health

4. Context – Biodiversity • Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) • Article 8(h): “...prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitat or species” • Canadian Biodiversity Strategy (1995) • Canadian response to the CBD • 17 federal departments and all provinces and territories

5. Context – Calls for action • Commissioner on Environment and Sustainable Development Invasive Species Audit (Oct 2002) • Government response to invasives that threaten biodiversity is not comparable to plant & animal health programs • Federal investment is inadequate and inaction is leading to biodiversity loss • Environment Canada accepted the Audit recommendations: • coordinate a national action plan • secure commitment of relevant departments • monitor & report on effectiveness

6. Progress-to-date • Joint meeting of resource Ministers’ councils: wildlife, forests, and fisheries & aquaculture • Draft plan requested by Ministers (Sept 01) • Elements recommended by multi-stakeholder National Workshop (Nov 01) • “Blueprint” approved and Thematic Working Groups requested by Ministers (Sept 02) • Thematic Working Groups established (Dec 02 - May 03) • Federal-Provincial-Territorial Workshop (Apr 03) • “Discussion document” approved-in-principle by Ministers (Sept 03)

7. Toward a national plan • Definitions • Scope • Rationale for action • The invasive alien species problem • Environmental threats • Economic threats • Social and human health threats • Pathways of invasion • What is working well • Inadequacy of current invasive alien species measures • International progress & lessons learned

8. Toward a national plan • 3 strategic challenges: • Integrate environmental considerations into decision-making with economic and social factors • Enhance coordination to respond more rapidly to new invasions and pathways of invasion • Strengthen programs to protect natural resources under pressure from increased global trade and travel

9. Invasive Alien Species Draft Policy and Management Framework • Scope • 1. Aquatic ecosystems • 2. Terrestrial ecosystems • native biodiversity • domestic plants & animals • Leadership and Coordination • lead federal Ministers • federal coordinating mechanisms • FPT coordinating network • independent advisory committee • Prevent • harmful intentional and unintentional introductions • Detect • and identify invaders pre-border and upon entry through surveillance • Respond • rapidly to new invaders upon detection • Manage • established and spreading invaders (eradicate, contain, control & restore) Risk Analysis risk assessment + risk management + risk communication • Science • surveillance • taxonomy • control methods • monitoring • research • Legislation • & Regulations • coordinated framework • Engaging • Canadians • knowledge & information • education • stewardship • International Cooperation • bilateral • regional • multi-lateral

10. Purpose Vision Principles & practices Roles & responsibilities Strategic goals Prevention Early detection Rapid response Eradication, containment & control Implementation strategies Risk analysis Science Legislation and regulations Education and outreach International cooperation Priority-setting criteria Action plans Aquatics Animals Plants Toward a National Plan

11. Toward a National Plan • Leadership & Coordination • Recognize lead federal Ministers • Establish interdepartmental committees for coordination and decision making • Establish an inter-jurisdictional coordination mechanism and/or network • Establish an independent multi-stakeholder advisory committee to provide advice to governments

12. Toward a National Plan • Strategic Goal 1: Prevention • Integrated risk assessment, consistent nationally and internationally across sectors • Mandatory assessment of all proposed intentional introductions • Enhanced capacity for risk assessment • Coordinated federal risk management • Management plans for high-risk commodities, pathways, and vectors • Research to develop predictive tools • National public education and targeted outreach initiatives

13. Toward a National Plan • Strategic goal 2: Early detection • Develop capacity for pre-border inspection at sources/points of origin • Surveying new and emerging pathways • Develop a coordinated surveillance network that includes a public monitoring component • Enhance inspection capacity • Establish a core capacity of taxonomic expertise • Cooperate internationally to develop an international network of diagnostic experts

14. Toward a National Plan • Strategic goal 3: Rapid response • Apply integrated risk assessment for newly detected invasives for which contingency plans have not been prepared • Develop contingency/emergency response plans • Develop contingency/emergency response networks • Ensure access to emergency funds to respond rapidly to invasions upon detection • Develop targeted education/outreach initiatives to secure support for management measures

15. Toward a National Plan • Strategic goal 4: Management (Eradication, containment and control) • Use risk assessment to prioritize and identify options for managing well-established invaders • Develop management plans to eradicate or control priority invasive alien species • Develop management plans in partnership with stakeholders • Conduct research on eradication, containment, and control methods/technologies • Develop restoration/recovery plans for vulnerable ecosystems

16. Focus on Plants • Terrestrial Plants Working Group on Invasive Species • Co-chairs and cross-sectoral membership • ToR: invasive plants and all invasive alien species that impact plants • Plant pathogens/viruses, fungi, nematodes, insects, etc. • Invasive alien plants (e.g. weeds) • Policy priorities • Clarifying accountabilities • Risk analysis • Coordination of surveillance

17. Pathways, vectors Within Canada & internationally Intentional & unintentional agricultural crops nursery stock restoration/remediation ornamentals/seedlings packing materials commodities: seed, forage, food produce, grains/birdseed, wood products spread/movement (e.g. wind, water, livestock - incl. transboundary) hitchhikers on transport aquarium trade soil/sod/gravel escapes from research, botanical gardens, etc. travel & tourism (incl. baggage) Internet & mail order Focus on Plants

18. Next Steps • Consultations to validate Framework (Fall 03) • Working groups to develop Action Plans (03-04) • Initiate consultations (Spring 04) • Ministers to consider/approve draft National Plan (Sept 04) • Implement National Plan (Sept 04 - ongoing)

19. Invasives & the IPPC • Definition of IAS includes the concept of plant pest • IPPC approach is informing draft national plan • Draft national plan seeks to enhance capacity of existing programs • Canada is committed to building on what is already working well • ISPM No. 11 – environmental risk assessment • Environment sector is increasingly interested in the IPPC, and plant protection organizations are increasingly interested in biodiversity • Environment sector will become more engaged in the IPPC as we move from frameworks to action plans