Projekt 30852/01

Durchführung des Symposiums Invasive Arten im städtischen Raum 2013

Projektdurchführung

IUCN Environmental Law Center
Godesberger Allee 108-112
53175 Bonn

Zielsetzung und Anlass des Vorhabens

Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are animals and plants that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a natural environment where they are not normally found. Invasive alien species (IAS) pose a significant threat to biodiversity in the EU, and this threat is likely to increase in the future unless robust action is taken at all levels to control the introduction and establishment of these species and address those al-ready introduced. IAS cause some € 12.5 billion worth of damage each year in the EU. Although the challenges posed by IAS are common to many Member States, there is currently no dedicated, compre-hensive EU policy to address them. The EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 proposes filling this gap with a dedicated EU legislative instrument which could tackle outstanding challenges relating inter alia to IAS pathways, early detection and response and containment and management of IAS. Metropolitan areas are particularly vulnerable to invasive alien species, due to the amount of commodities arriving or pass-ing through for trade and commercial activities – which are the keypathways for IAS - and the character-istics of the urbanized landscape, which is highly manipulated and close to several managed and natural ecosystems. Urban areas may also act as a “source” of IAS into other environments, because of citizens being the ultimate recipients of the international wildlife trade of non native plants and animals (e.g. see gardening and pet trade). On the other hand, the urban environment can play a key role in helping to ad-dress the risks associated to biological invasions by contributing to raise awareness to citizens and decision makers on the issue.


Darstellung der Arbeitsschritte und der angewandten MethodenRecognising the increasingly serious problem of invasive alien species in Europe, the European Com-mission has been working on a dedicated legislative instrument on Invasive Alien Species which for which a proposal has been made public in September 2013. IUCN will organise a conference to bring to-gether European and national governmental representatives and experts to raise awareness and ex-change knowledge and best practices that contribute to solutions that reduce the risk of invasive species in urban areas.
It will serve to inform the competent authorities in Europe who are responsible for implementing action to reduce the impact of invasive species, with scientific knowledge and expertise as well as guidance and examples.



Ergebnisse und Diskussion

IUCN has brought together key actors from all over Europe on the 5th of September at the IUCN Global Headquar-ters in Gland, Switzerland for the conference Invasive Alien Species: the Urban Dimension. Around 60 experts participated in the conference from multiple countries, representing scientific institutions, national, regional and local governments, the European Commission, cities, NGOs and international organisations.The conference served as an opportunity to share examples, establish cooperation and strengthen action for the prevention, control and management of invasive alien species across Europe. In her welcome address, IUCN Director General Julia Marton-Lefèvre pointed out that “to many people outside of our community, IAS still sound like creatures out of a science-fiction movie. If we do nothing about them, this sci-fi movie may turn into a horror film. What we need instead is a box office hit: a successful production involving numerous actors, and with a happy ending! Today’s conference is an important step toward achieving this”. In advance of the conference, IUCN published a compilation of case studies from more than 15 European countries on Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in urban areas, to showcase examples of concrete action at the urban level, and a selection of case studies were presented and discussed during the conference. With this publication, IUCN highlights the key role that local and regional authorities play in implementing national and international biodiversity targets and in addressing the risks associated with biological invasions. The publication can be downloaded and is available in hardcopy for interested parties: https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/edocs/2013-027.pdf A number of key recommendations for strengthening awareness and action to control and manage invasive alien species in urban areas have been developed by the IUCN European Union Representative Office in collaboration with the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) and with contribution of the conference participants.There commendations can be found online: https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/conference_ias_the_urban_dimension___recommendations_1.pdf All outcomes of the conference can be downloaded via the IUCN website: http://iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/europe/?13708/Urban-areas-and-biological-invasions-what-can-cities-do-about-it


Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und Präsentation

• Invasive alien species: the urban dimension
http://iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/europe/resources/publications/?13589/Invasive-alien-species-the-urban-dimension
• Webstory on the conference: Urban areas and biological invasions: what can cities do about it?
http://iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/europe/?13708/Urban-areas-and-biological-invasions-what-can-cities-do-about-it
• Blog Chantal van Ham, Invasive Alien Species are sneaking into our cities
https://portals.iucn.org/blog/2013/09/27/invasive-alien-species-are-sneaking-into-our-cities/
• IUCN European newsletter October 2013, focus: invasive alien species
http://iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/europe/resources/newsletters/newsletter2/european_october2013.cfm
• BBC news: Invasive alien species threaten urban environments
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23936489
• Event in Brussels on EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species
IUCN in cooperation with IUCN ISSG has organized an event on 28 November 2013 at the IUCN EU Representative Office in Brussels, targeting representatives of the 28 EU Member States who are involved in the working party of the European Council on the new proposal for an EU Regulation on IAS (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2013:0620:FIN:EN:PDF), to highlight the areas where the current proposal by the European Commission needs to be improved. The event was meant to provide an informal opportunity for discussion to complement the formal and official EU decision-making process.



Fazit

Invasive alien species (IAS) pose a significant threat to biodiversity in Europe and globally and this threat is likely to increase in the future unless meaningful action is taken to control the introduction and establishment of these species and address those already introduced. The IUCN conference ‘Invasive Alien Species: the Urban Dimention’ held on the 5th of September 2013 gathered key stakeholders from across Europe to present and analyse the problem of IAS in European urban areas and to exchange knowledge and best practices that contribute to solutions.
Urban areas are particularly affected by IAS, because they present important entry pathways that lead to introduction of invasive species (e.g. pets, ornamental plants, accidental arrivals in harbours or airports) and their further spread beyond the urban environment. Cities, local and regional authorities and other urban actors have a critical role to play in fighting biological invasions, by preventing their introduction, implementing control and management measures, and raising awareness with citizens and decision-makers.
The European Commission presented on the 9th of September, a new legislative proposal to curb the
impacts of invasive alien species in the EU. This paves the way for more, better and coordinated action in Europe to combat invasive alien species.
The following key recommendations for strengthening awareness and action to control and manage
invasive alien species in urban areas have been developed by the IUCN European Union Representative Office in collaboration with the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group and with contribution of the conference participants: https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/conference_ias_the_urban_dimension___recommendations_1.pdf