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
Naturvårdsverket | 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
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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.
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
Role of the European Commission in development of an European Early Warning
System
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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
Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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
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