Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency NOBANIS and the development of a European Early Warning and Rapid Response System Results of

Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

NOBANIS and the development of a European Early Warning and Rapid Response System

Results of NOBANIS workshop on Early Warning, Ireland

1-3 June 2010Melanie Josefsson

Swedish Environmental Protection Agency


What is NOBANIS?

• Network and gateway to information on invasive alien species via an internet portal, from 2003 -

www.nobanis.org• Country driven network of 19 countries with an environmental management perspective

• A dynamic, distributed, searchable database with more than 14,000 species records from all environments

• Database on national regulations, literature

• Fact sheets for 60 of the most invasive species

http://www.nobanis.org/




Trends in introduction of alien species in all environments


Pathways of introduction


Purpose of the NOBANIS workshop on Early Warning

• Input to the European Commission for further work on EU Strategy on IAS

• Input into development of a European Early Warning & Rapid Response system

• Test the NOBANIS information system to see how it could be used in an Early Warning and Rapid Response system


Workshop recommendations

1. Added value of a single Early Warning & Rapid Response System

2. Components of an Early Warning and Rapid Response system

3. Role of the European Commission in development of an European Early Warning System

Spiraea tomentosa, photos by Zygmunt Dajdok and Waldemar Bena.


The main components of a European Early Warning and Rapid Response System

Genovesi et. al 2010

1. Horizon scanning

2. Detection, monitoring, surveillance

3. Diagnosis

4. Quick screening

5. Risk assessment

6. Reporting and circulation of information

7. Response

8. Follow up


Workshop recommendations

Added value of a European EW & RR System

Horizon scanning• Minimize duplication of efforts• Facilitate the integration and information exchange

with animal and plant health, mariculture, aquaculture, ballast water control

Detection, monitoring, surveillance• Provide basis for coordinated approach between

countries• Produce EU level species guides for identification

Diagnosis• Ensure a more efficient leverage of resources


Quick screening

• A common databank of risk screenings would accelerate the process

• Allows a standardization of methodology

Risk assessments• Facilitate the sharing of results of risk

assessments• Ensure consistency of RA procedures and

results

Reporting and circulation of information• Essential with a common system for

circulation and exchange of information


Response• Support community responses when

common interests are threatened (see EPPO experiences)

• Aid in defining legal basis for response

Follow up

Evaluate whether actions were effective


Components of an Early Warning and Rapid Response system

- Requirements for an information system (continuity, harmonization, regular updating, data ownership)

- Process of Early Warning & Rapid Response

- Information required for initial notification and EW

- Distribution of an EW


Components of an Early Warning and Rapid Response system (cont.)

Criteria for Early Warning

• Arrival of new IAS

• An existing alien species becomes invasive

• An existing IAS suddenly begin a range expansion

Elodea canadensisPhoto: M. Hassler


Key actions required for an EW & RR system at the EU level

• Construct and maintain a centralized information system incl. alert lists, alarm list, black lists etc.

• Collect and disseminate best practice and methodologies and ensure a standardized approach

• Address the legal inconsistencies and gaps to ensure preventative measures and adequate response

• Support efforts with education and awareness raising

• Identify and provide funding incl. capacity building and contingency funding

• Identify ways to involve relevant non-EU countries in the system


Role of the European Commission in development of an European Early Warning

System


NOBANIS pilot projects on Early Warning

- Development of a Species alert with e-mail system (EPPO model)

• Networking function further developed

• Newsletter 3-4 per year on portal continues

• Harmonization of data continues


NOBANIS pilot project on EW

• )


Horizon scanning function

Develop risk maps for 22 IAS species in terrestrial, freshwater and marine and brackish water environments

Biogeographic approach

Test NOBANIS information system to see what needs to be improved/added

Arion lusitanicusPhoto: Inger Weidema



22 Invasive Alien Species for study

• Acer rufinerve

• Branta canadensis

• Bunias orientalis

• Castor canadensis

• Corbicula fluminea

• Crassula helmsii

• Didemnum vexillum

• Gyrodactylus salaris

• Harmonia axyridis

• Lithobathes catebeiana

• Ludwigia grandiflora, L. peploides

• Lupinus nootkatensis

• Lupinus polyphyllus

• Mustela vison

• Myocastor coypus

• Neogobius melanostomus

• Pacifastacus leniusculus

• Paralithodes camtschatica

• Psittacula krameri

• Rhododendron ponticum

• Robinia pseudoacacia

• Sciurus carolinensis


Thank you! http://www.nobanis.org/events.asp

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Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency NOBANIS and the development of a European Early Warning and Rapid Response System Results of