At the conclusion of the 2003 "Invasive alien species and the International Plant Protection Convention" workshop, Braunschweig, Germany, participants made a series of recommendations that are summarized and reported below. They relate to what participants could do in their countries, what they would recommend to national plant protection organizations (NPPOs), regional plant protection organizations (RPPOs) and other relevant agencies, and what they would recommend to the parties and secretariats of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
Recommendations for participants
Disseminate information gained from this workshop to stakeholders (various ministries, agencies, colleagues, students) within individual organizations, between departments and regionally and share your new knowledge of how to use the IPPC framework in managing invasive alien species (IAS).
Apply knowledge gained at this workshop and promote the use of international standards for phytosanitary measures for IAS management.
Network with other participants from this workshop to share expertise and exchange ideas.
Start and participate in a pest risk analysis working group.
Ensure your country’s NPPO contact information is up to date on the IPPC’s Web site (www.ippc.int).
Meet your NPPO contact point or environmental protection agency counterpart and discuss an approach to managing IAS issues jointly.
Recommendations for NPPOs
Broaden the scope of plant protection laws and regulations where needed to include IAS and biodiversity concerns.
Establish pest risk analysis working groups.
Develop pest risk analysis capabilities incorporating biodiversity concerns.
Promote the use of IPPC standards for quarantine purposes including the management of invasive alien species.
Recommendations at the national level for work between NPPOs and environmental protection agencies
Develop strong linkages between environmental, plant protection and agricultural ministries and related organizations in order to articulate common goals and work together to reach those goals.
Inventory existing legislation and identify gaps with reference to IAS issues.
Review, define and clarify institutional framework and legal mandates of different national agencies in order to identify gaps and reduce duplication.
Create synergy through better coordination and cooperation of NPPOs and environmental protection agencies.
Improve communication between the CBD focal point and the IPPC contact point.
Evaluate capacity to deal with invasive alien species and make the most efficient use of capacities for management and surveillance of invasive alien species.
Develop a national plan or strategy to deal with invasive alien species.
Establish or adapt existing pest alert systems for inclusion of invasive alien species affecting plants.
Develop and initiate research programmes on invasive alien species and areas of biodiversity.
Encourage public and political awareness and education on IAS issues.
Recommendations for RPPOs
Facilitate a regional approach to exchange information on the identification of invasive alien species that are of regional concern, coordinate pest risk analysis on a regional scale and share expertise.
Hold workshops to inform members on application of the IPPC and CBD for the management of invasive alien species.
Recommendations for parties to the CBD
Recognize the use of international standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPMs) for protecting plant biodiversity as part of in situ biological conservation efforts.
Urge parties either to become contracting parties to the IPPC or to accept the new revised text of the convention as soon as possible.
Recommendations for contracting parties to the IPPC
Support the creation of a simple tool kit on the implementation of ISPMs.
Support additional training workshops for developing countries, specifically on pest risk analysis and inspection.
Develop more detailed guidelines on the criteria for invasiveness within the framework of ISPM 11 [2004]: Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests, including analysis of environmental risks and living modified organisms.
Encourage the use of simple language in ISPMs.
Recommendations for both the IPPC and CBD Secretariats
Clarify overlapping issues and gaps between areas of work.
Harmonize terminology, especially the terms "invasive alien species" and "pest".
Facilitate better cooperation between IPPC contact points and CBD focal points.
Consider the possibility of developing a joint work plan.
List reliable sources of information on pests, pest alerts, pest risk analysis and phytosanitary regulations.
Create model(s) for country use to develop legislation (e.g. elaboration of the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation tool).
Organize workshops or seminars where environmental, plant protection and agricultural agencies meet regularly to review application and lessons on IAS issues and hold an additional joint workshop on invasive alien species to help coordinate NPPOs and environmental protection agencies. Some of these workshops should be held in languages other than English.
Encourage regional cooperation through RPPOs and regional information networks.
Consider developing a programme to ensure exchange of information at the global level both for quarantine and IAS purposes.
Develop guidelines on invasiveness.
Organize training and capacity building for developing countries, especially in pest risk analysis and inspection.
Encourage additional technical assistance for developing countries to improve the management of invasive alien species.
Networking
As a result of the workshop, the International Plant Health Risk Assessment Network has been formed to develop methods to harmonize the implementation of phytosanitary pest risk analysis. This network is tentatively planning to hold a workshop on pest risk analysis in 2005 in Canada.
