Invasive Alien Species
> 10 October 07
Kyiv commitment
By 2008, the Pan-European Strategy on Invasive Alien Species developed under the Bern Convention, fully compatible with the Guiding Principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity, will be implemented by at least half of the countries of the pan-European region through their respective Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans.
Assessment
General awareness of invasive alien species remains low in Europe and implementation of the Pan-European Strategy on Invasive Alien Species varies between the member countries. In general, policies and measures that have been adopted are focused on issues related to plant and animal health, with biodiversity conservation aspects pushed to the background. The majority of the countries have, however, paid explicit attention to invasive alien species in their biodiversity strategies as reported to CBD.
Only a few Bern Convention countries have developed a specific strategy or action plan to manage invasive alien species, such as Austria, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom. Even fewer countries, such as the Netherlands, have taken action to control invasive alien species. Many European countries also lack specific legislation to deal with the issue. The absence of centralized competencies and authorities is frequently cited as a problem.
Actions necessary to counter invasive alien species include measures for management and restoration, although these are usually both difficult and costly. Within the EU, the LIFE programme finances management actions to control invasive alien species, and during the period 1992–2002 approximately €28 million was spent through LIFE on these actions. The list of worst invasive species that threaten biodiversity in Europe that was prepared by IUCN’s Invasive Species Specialist Group can serve as a useful tool to prioritize management actions, in framing monitoring programmes for invasive alien species and in establishing early warning systems.
In July 2006 the EC completed a gap assessment of the current legal and policy framework for invasive alien species. A further gap assessment of the economic framework is to be launched this year. There are currently several strategic European research projects on invasive alien species to help inform EU policy development. There are also ongoing discussions with the European Environment Agency to develop and host a European early warning system for such species, and the EC is preparing a discussion document on an EU framework for action. If the Kyiv target is to be met, increased attention to this issue will be needed before 2008. Policy responses in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia are lagging somewhat behind and may need to be supported through capacity building. However, the target that half of the countries in the pan European region should meet the obligations of the Bern Convention and the CBD on invasive alien species through national strategies and planning by 2008 seems achievable.
About this page
This document is part of the Countdown 2010 Readiness Assessment 2007. Download the entire study in English or Russian or read the chapters online.
Pan-European Progress Towards Achieving the 2010 Biodiversity Target
Introduction
Forests and Biodiversity
Agriculture and Biodiversity
The Pan-European Ecological Network
Invasive Alien Species
Financing Biodiversity
Biodiversity Monitoring and Indicators
Public Participation and Awareness
Additional Challenges
Annex 1: Status and trends of 2010 indicators
Annex 2: C2010 Readiness Assessment Questionnaire
Annex 3: Online Survey on the 2010 Biodiversity Target
Annex 4: Recommendations for high nature value farmland
Annex 5: SEBI2010 Indicators
