OO. 3.7 Avoid the introduction and mitigate the impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity

Natural geographic barriers and prevailing local conditions have allowed the development of distinct ecosystems with their own unique set of species. With increasing volumes of international trade and movement of people, the rate of introduction of species into ecosystems that would normally be beyond their range of distribution has increased enormously. Some of them, which become invasive under the new local conditions, threaten the equilibrium of the local ecosystem. Several cases have already been reported in Belgium (Peeters & Van Goethem, 2002; Branquart et al., 2006). All types of organisms are transported, including disease-causing viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae, mosses, ferns, flowering plants, invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals.

As a Party to the Bern Convention, Belgium should implement the Pan-European Strategy on Invasive Alien Species (IAS) (Council of Europe, 2003).

The CBD has developed guiding principles that can help Belgium to prevent the introduction of IAS, to detect early new introduced IAS and to undertake mitigation measures for established IAS (CBD Decision VI/23).

The complex nature of issues concerning alien species makes it currently difficult to identify clearly the sharing of responsibilities at Belgian level²¹. In order to address this problem and meet the various requests regarding introductions of alien species from the treaties to which Belgium is a Party, concrete steps must be urgently taken and coordinated action plans developed when necessary. The following operational recommendations, based on the guiding principles of the CBD and on the Pan-European Strategy on Invasive Species, were formulated by the Belgian Forum on Invasive Species within the framework of the SOS invasion conference (Brussels 09 and 10 March 2006) in order to limit the ecological and economic impact of invasive non-native species in Belgium:

1. Designate or create a single lead structure to co-ordinate and ensure consistency of application of non-native species policies in relevant fields (phytosanitary controls, animal health and welfare, trade in non-native species, biosecurity initiatives, etc.).
2. Conduct comprehensive and widely accepted risk assessment procedures for intentional introduction of non-native species in the wild.
3. Develop action plans addressing the main introduction pathways to help prevent intentional and unintentional introductions for all relevant sectors.
4. Revise, enlarge and update the existing legislation to improve handling of invasive non-native species issues.
5. Establish early detection and control mechanisms of detrimental non-native species in the wild.
6. Build up and maintain scientific capacity.
7. Raise awareness of all relevant sectors to ensure a good understanding of invasive species issues including introduction pathways, economic and ecological impacts.