Invasive Species In Asia: A Management Challenge to Sustainable Crop Production

Wai-Hong LOKE, CABI SEA

Invasive Species Presentation

• Introduction to invasive species (IS) and context

• Invasive species - a management challenge

• Effects and consequences

• Addressing the problem

• About CABI and IAS

• Summary

1. Introduction to Invasive Species

Invasive species are plants, animals or micro-organisms that are not native to a specific ecosystem and whose introduction threatens biodiversity, food security, health or economic development.

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Global / Regional Context

• Occur in all major taxonomic groups of biological organisms

• One of greatest threats to ecological and economic well-being of planet

• Direct and indirect effects are serious and often irreversible

• Serious problems in many economic and health sectors

• Trade-related IS problem to market access vis-à-vis WTO

• IS cost > $1 trillion per annum (nearly 5% global GDP)

• Increasing – travel, trade, transport, tourism

• Exacerbation by climate change

• Lack of biosecurity planning against IS

• Global in scope and requires international cooperation to supplement actions at national and local levels

IPPC

WTO-SPSWTO-SPS CBD

International Regulatory Framework

CP

Protecting Protecting wild florawild flora

Trade while Trade while protectingprotecting

biodiversitybiodiversity

TradeTrade

LMOsLMOs

No more No more tradetrade

restrictionrestrictionthan than

necessarynecessary LMOs identifiedLMOs identified as pestsas pests

ProtectingProtectingbiologicalbiological diversitydiversity

Plant ProtectionPlant Protection

Some of the Asia’s Worst IS1. Banana bunchy top virus

2. Papaya ring-spot virus

3. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

4. Giant mimosa (Mimosa pigra)

5. Golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata)

6. Sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci / argentifolii)

7. Fruit Flies (Bactrocera spp.)

8. Rice planthoppers (Nilaparvata, Nephotettix)

Serious management challenges

2. IS – A Management Challenge

General Traits/Characteristics of a Successful IAS

• Large reproductive output• Rapid growth rate• Efficient dispersal capabilities• No / lack of natural enemies• Broad environmental tolerance

An Important Management Consideration

“Pathways”

the means by which an invasive species is moved

“The 4 T’s”

• Trade (expanded)

• Travel (faster)

• Transport (further)

• Tourism (increased)

Packing materials

Cut-flowers

Planting materials

TRADE

TRAVEL

TRANSPORTATION

Pest complex

Weed community

Crop

rising temperature, air humidity, CO2, N2O, CH4., rainfall, fire risks

changes in soil water / nutrient dynamics

Effect of higher temperatures on crop yields

< 3 oC increase higher yields in temperate zones

> 3 oC increase lower yields in temperate zones

Any increase lower yields in tropics

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adapted by Norgrove from IPCC (2007), summarising 69 studies

Furthermore,● Climate change will alter pest / crop / soil dynamics● Ranges of some pests may expand to higher

altitudes & latitudes● More extreme climatic disturbances will create

opportunities for pest colonisation and establishment

Predicted crop yield declines in the Tropics

3. Effects of IS• Competition with native taxa of flora and fauna

• Hybridization with genetically close species

• Changes in physical & chemical characteristics of soil

• Modification of natural and semi-natural habitats

• Disruption of ecosystem services

• Propagation of pests and diseases

Consequences:Environmental

WaterhyacinthIntroduced from Latin America as ornamental plant, has eliminated more than 10 native aquatic plant species and more than 15 native freshwater fishes in Lake Rawapening, Indonesia (Soerjani, 1982, 1996)

Consequences – Environmental

One of top drivers of environmental change Great threat to species composition of ecosystems Second to habitat loss in biodiversity disruption Cascading effect on biological systems / food

chains Deplete natural resources, e.g. water Disrupt ecosystem services One of most serious environmental challenges

Consequences: Economic

Golden Apple SnailIntroduced from Latin America as a high protein food source, the golden apple snail caused losses to Philippine rice crops during the 1980’s of $1 billion (Naylor 1996)

Consequences – Economic

Significant damage / losses in key economic sectors, e.g. agriculture, forestry

Impact on food security Barriers to sustainable development Impediments to trade Significant costs in control operations / inputs Issues of compensation in quarantine situations

4. Addressing the Problem

Goals:• Prevention• Early Detection• Eradication• Control• Restoration

Addressing the Problem

Processes:

Risk Assessment and Management Research Monitoring Publicity and Education Policy and Regulation Information Management Measure Accomplishments

Multi-agency / stakeholder cooperation, collaboration and capacity building are essential

Addressing the Problem

• Complexity• Uncertainty• Mobility

(both invaders and pathways)• Time lags

Scientific Challenges:

Addressing the Problem

• Lack of awareness• Mustering resources• Lack of coordination• Speed of operations• Conflicting policies, policy gaps• High costs / financial issues

Political Challenges:

Addressing the Problem

• Animal rights• Risks of pesticides• Risks of biological control• GMOs

Ethical Challenges:

Ten Strategic Responses to Manage IS

Element 1 Build management capacityElement 2 Build research capacityElement 3 Promote sharing of informationElement 4 Develop economic policies and toolsElement 5 Strengthen national, regional and international legal and

institutional frameworksElement 6 Institute system of environmental risk analysisElement 7 Build public awareness and engagementElement 8 Prepare national strategies and plansElement 9 Build IAS issues into global change initiativesElement 10 Promote regional/international cooperation to deal

with the problems of invasive alien species

5. About CABI

• Established in 1910

• Not-for-profit status

• Owned by 45 member countries

• Multicultural staff based in 16 countries worldwide

• Global leader in scientific publishing, research consultancy, science communication and project delivery

• Bioscience & Health Databases, abstract journals, books, CD-Rom and web-based products

• Some 300 development assistance projects in 70 countries

CABI’s and Invasive Species

• Track record – e.g. 100 years expertise

• Effectiveness – through global network of centres

• Status – intergovernmental, independent

• Information – abstracts, compendia, e-portals, etc.

• Diagnostics – Global Plant Clinic / PlantWise Alliance

• Facilities – 3rd country quarantine

• Leadership – policy, strategy, control

Influencing Global Policy & Practice

• Founding member of GISP● Put invasive species on global agenda● MoU with CBD● GISP recognised, supported by COP

• Working with IPPC● Crop Protection Compendium – PRA● Technical assistance strategy

• Working with other key bodies

• GISIN

• IUCN

• TNC

• AAFC

• USDA

Solving Invasive Species Problems

• Green muscle – a mycopesticide for locust control on the market; research to product development

• Cocoa pod borer in PNG

• Coffee berry borer in PNG and Papua & Sulawesi

• Biological control of invasive weeds, e.g. Mikania using rust fungi

• Capacity building in trade-related IS

Management options: Green Muscle®

● Green Muscle can be used to control Z. variegatus, Schistocercia gregaria, the desert locust and other hoppers

● Green Muscle is an environmentally-friendly mycoinsecticide of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum developed by the collaborative LUBILOSA project comprising CABI, IITA, GTZ & CILSS/ AGRHYMET..

● Commercialised by Biological Control Products SA (Pty) Ltd, South Africa

Desert locust infected with Green Muscle ®

e.g. Cocoa Pod Borer in PNG

• a SE Asian problem

• an ACIAR-CABI-PNG project

• incursion and emergency response program support , IPM and FPTR in PNG

• draws on our experience in IPM in Malaysia

e.g. Coffee Berry Borer in PNG

• a global coffee problem

• an ACIAR-CABI-PNG-Indonesia project

• management of the pest in Papua and Sulawesi provinces of Indonesia,

• prevention and emergency response in PNG

• draws on our experience in CBB IPM worldwide

e.g. biological control of Mikania

• Mikania micrantha – “mile-a-minute weed”• using a co-evolved neo-tropical rust pathogen,

Puccinia spegazzinii• imported from S. & Central America, evaluated in

CABI UK, released in India 2005• P. spegazzini going to China, Taiwan, Fiji

e.g. APEC Workshops

Three projects – logical sequence in capacity

Building of trade-related IS:

1. awareness in biosecurity planning

2. pest surveillance according to ISPM No. 6

3. diagnostics for whiteflies, thrips, mealybugs and leafminers

Forging IS Management Synergies through….

• Active support for and participation in many key IS-related events (World Conservation Congress, COP, IS conferences, etc.)

• Partnerships with relevant global and regional bodies (GISP, IUCN, IPPC, CBD, GISIN, APFISN, APEC, etc.)

• Collaborating with and backstopping regional initiatives and national programs (SPSCBP, AADCP, NZAID, China-CMIAS, Malaysia-MOA, PNG-CCI/CIC/NAQIA, etc)

• Focused projects in developing CABI MCs, e.g. PNG, China

• Working with international consortium on a global ISC

• Co-organising international/regional IS meetings (ICBI2009)

6. Summary

• IS are a significant and growing threat

• Impact trade, environment and agriculture

- sustainable economic development

• Global dimensions – treaties, conventions

• Capacity issues, specific problems

• Expertise, track record, intergovernmental status

- CABI an ideal partner

Thank you