The EPPO prioritization process for invasive alien plants

Although invasive alien plants are gaining increased attention within EPPO countries, there is no existing widely agreed method to identify those alien plants that are considered invasive and represent the highest priority for pest risk analysis. In the framework of the ad hoc Panel on Invasive Alien Species, EPPO proposes a prioritization process for invasive alien plants designed (i) to produce a list of invasive alien plants that are established or could potentially establish in the EPPO region and (ii) to determine which of these have the highest priority for an EPPO pest risk analysis. The process consists of compiling available information on alien plants according to pre‐determined criteria, and can be run at the EPPO region level, or at a country or local area level. These criteria examine whether the species is alien in the area under study, and whether it is established or not. The criteria used primarily rely on observations in the EPPO region but, if the species is not established, the invasive behaviour of the species in other countries should be investigated, as well as the suitability of the ecoclimatic conditions in the area under consideration. The spread potential, the potential negative impacts on native species, habitats and ecosystems, as well as on agriculture, horticulture or forestry are considered. If the species qualifies as an invasive alien plant of major concern through this first set of questions, the process then investigates the efficiency of international measures (to be justified through a pest risk analysis) to prevent the entry and spread of the species. The second set of questions are designed to determine whether the species is internationally traded or enters new countries through international pathways for which the risk of introduction is superior to natural spread, and whether the species still has a significant suitable area for further spread. If used by several EPPO countries, this prioritization process represents an opportunity to provide consistent country lists of invasive alien plant species, as well as a tool for dialogue and exchange of information.     

Risikoanalyse von gebietsfremden Pflanzen—Das neue Konzept der EPPO

The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) aims to prevent the entry and spread of organisms harmful to both cultivated and wild plants. Basing their activities on those of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Plant Protection Convention, the EPPO is developing a new concept for invasive alien species and ‘plants as pests’. A pest risk analysis is necessary in most cases to identify which organisms should be regulated and how. In accordance with the International Plant Protection Convention, an EPPO risk assessment standard exists for this purpose which has now been revised to be applicable also to potentially invasive alien plants and assess the effects they pose to the uncultivated environment. In 2003, the EPPO sent a questionnaire to its 44 member states asking for plants which have been intentionally or unintentionally introduced and are considered invasive. The member countries reported hundreds of species, of which 42 were selected for further assessment. This may result in recommendations for regulations and measures against the introduction and spread of all or some of these plants.     

Invasive alien plants along roadsides in Europe

This study presents a list of invasive alien plants that are found along roadsides in seven selected European countries – Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden – and an overview on the role of roadsides as a habitat for invasive alien plants. This compilation is based on national lists of invasive alien plants, a literature search and expert consultation. Comprising 89 species from 31 plant families, species introduced for horticulture dominate the list (65%). Thirteen species (14%) are widespread (occur in four or more countries) and include well‐known invasive plants such as Fallopia japonica, Heracleum mantegazzianum, Solidago canadensis and Solidago gigantea. Seventeen species are listed either on the EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants or on the EPPO A2 List of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests. Five species are on the List of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern (EU Regulation 1143/2014). The compiled list provides a snap‐shot of invasive alien plants currently found along roadsides in the selected countries. It allows for a more targeted approach to monitoring, containment and control of the most problematic invasive alien plants identified in each country. Moreover, the list may also be used to identify emerging (potentially) invasive alien plants along roadsides in other European countries that warrant monitoring and/or management.     

Is terrestrial plant import from East Asia into countries in the EPPO region a potential pathway for new emerging invasive alien plants?

Pathway analysis represents an effective means of identifying emerging invasive alien species. For plants, a significant number of invasions have been caused by plant species originally voluntary introduced as ornamentals. The pathway analysis for terrestrial ornamental plants imported from East Asia has been undertaken to provide information on the imports and to identify emerging terrestrial invasive alien plants. Data for terrestrial ornamental plants imported from East Asia into Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey was assembled at the genus level. Thousands of species of plants for planting are imported from East Asia in very large volumes. However, despite the fact that the data could only been analyzed at the genus level, it is considered that only a very limited number of taxa would become invasive. The potentially invasive alien species are already widely available in European nurseries and are principally produced within the European Union.     

Improving the prevention of alien plant invasion in the EPPO region: the need to focus on highly invasive plants with (still) limited distribution – examples from Israel

Prevention (of invasion) is the most efficient strategy to control invasive alien plants (IAPs). This requires that potentially invasive plant taxa not yet introduced into regions where they could become invasive are identified as early as possible. Therefore, alongside the best known and already widespread IAPs it is crucial to highlight highly invasive plant taxa whose distribution is still limited. It becomes even more important to consider those taxa when some are recommended as ornamental/useful species outside their native range. This paper provides six examples of IAPs whose invasiveness has been established but which are still restricted to a single EPPO country (Israel). While horizon‐scanning studies have produced valuable alert lists, mainly for temperate Europe, EPPO pest risk analyses have focused on IAPs that are widespread outside the EPPO region. Therefore it is suggested that more attention is given to IAPs that pose a threat to Mediterranean, semiarid and arid areas within the EPPO region but that so far have remained largely unnoticed because of their present limited distribution. Awareness of these species must be urgently raised before they spread to new EPPO countries. The elaboration of a database compiling information about IAPs characterized by a restricted distribution in each EPPO country is discussed. The examples presented in this paper are most relevant to EPPO countries with a dry (Mediterranean, semiarid and arid) climate.     

A prioritization process for invasive alien plant species incorporating the requirements of EU Regulation no. 1143/2014

When faced with a large species pool of invasive or potentially invasive alien plants, prioritization is an essential prerequisite for focusing limited resources on species which inflict high impacts, have a high rate of spread and can be cost‐effectively managed. The prioritization process as detailed within this paper is the first tool to assess species for priority for risk assessment (RA) in the European Union (EU) specifically designed to incorporate the requirements of EU Regulation no. 1143/2014. The prioritization process can be used for any plant species alien to the EU, whether currently present within the territory or absent. The purpose of the prioritization is to act as a preliminarily evaluation to determine which species have the highest priority for RA at the EU level and may eventually be proposed for inclusion in the list of invasive alien species of EU concern. The preliminary risk assessment stage (Stage 1), prioritizes species into one of four lists (EU List of Invasive Alien Plants, EU Observation List of Invasive Alien Plants, EU List of Minor Concern and the Residual List) based on their potential for spread coupled with impacts. The impacts on native species and ecosystem functions and related ecosystem services are emphasized in line with Article 4.3(c) of the Regulation. Only those species included in the EU List of Invasive Alien Plants proceed to Stage 2 where potential for further spread and establishment coupled with evaluating preventative and management actions is evaluated. The output of Stage 2 is to prioritize those species which have the highest priority for a RA at the EU level or should be considered under national measures which may involve a trade ban, cessation of cultivation, monitoring, control, containment or eradication. When considering alien plant species for the whole of the EPPO region, or for species under the Plant Health Regulation, the original EPPO prioritization process for invasive alien plants remains the optimum tool.     

Status of invasive alien plants included in EPPO Lists in Turkey

Turkey is one of the richest areas in the middle latitudes in terms of plant diversity. It has approximately 12 000 plant species and a great number of new species are being added each year. However, invasive alien species have not yet been fully considered in Turkey and only two plant species are in Turkey's quarantine list (Arceuthobium spp. and Eichhornia crassipes). EPPO is an intergovernmental organization responsible for cooperation in plant protection in the European and Mediterranean region and maintains the A1 and A2 Lists of pests recommended for regulation (A1 species are absent from the EPPO region, A2 species are present but of limited distribution), the List of Invasive Alien Plants, the Observation List of invasive alien plants and the Alert List. Eichhornia crassipes, Heracleum persicum, Heracleum sosnowskyi, Ludwigia peploides, Polygonum perfoliatum and Solanum elaeagnifolium are among the species which were recorded in Turkey and are included in the EPPO A2 List. Species recorded in the EPPO List of invasive alien plants which are present in Turkey are: Acroptilon repens, Ailanthus altissima, Ambrosia artemisiifolia (= A. elatior), Carpobrotus edulis, Cortaderia selloana, Cyperus esculentus, Paspalum distichum (= P. paspalodes), Oxalis pes‐caprae and Sicyos angulatus. Azolla filiculoides and Rhododendron ponticum are listed in the EPPO Observation List of Invasive alien plants and Miscanthus sinensis, listed in the EPPO Alert List, are also recorded in the Turkish flora.     

Eradication and control of invasive alien plants in the Mediterranean Basin: towards better coordination to enhance existing initiatives

The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), in the framework of its activities in the Mediterranean Basin, launched a questionnaire to gather information on eradication actions and control actions for invasive alien plants. Thirty‐four (34) eradication actions were reported, 16 occurring in Spain, 7 in Italy, 7 in France, 1 in Portugal, 1 in Malta, and 2 on the southern rim of the Mediterranean, with 1 in Israel and 1 in Tunisia. Twenty‐two (22) species were targeted, and the habitats where such actions were undertaken most frequently were coastal dunes, sandy shores and aquatic ecosystems. Most of the species that have been the object of an eradication action were known invasive species recorded in the EPPO lists, such as Ailanthus altissima, Buddleia davidii, Carpobrotus spp., Eichhornia crassipes, Ludwigia peploides, Pennisetum setaceum, Pistia stratiotes, Solanum elaeagnifolium and Sicyos angulatus. Other eradicated species have a limited distribution in the EPPO region and may represent emerging invasive plants, such as Ambrosia confertifolia, Cylindropuntia rosea, Leersia oryzoides, Leptochloa fusca subsp. uninervia and Marsilea drummondii. Control actions concerning 90 species were also reported. A large number of eradication actions, as well as management actions, are therefore happening in Mediterranean countries. At present countries appear to operate with complete autonomy, without consulting neighbouring countries or other stakeholders within the country. There is therefore a need for coordination of new eradication actions.     

Importing plants into the Netherlands: an assessment of the risk of plant parasitic nematodes and a survey on their entry with adhering soil

Few plant parasitic nematodes are currently included in the European Union (EU) regulated pest lists. However, many plant parasitic nematodes not present in the EU are known to be damaging and present a risk to Europe. Therefore a study was performed to assess the risk of importing plant parasitic nematodes with the soil attached to plants for planting, with emphasis on plants in pots. Prior to the survey, a list of harmful plant parasitic nematodes not present within Europe was prepared per continent based on a literature review. This resulted in a Risk List of 26 species. Additionally, over a 3‐year period a survey was carried out on plants for planting imported to the Netherlands with adhering soil, focusing on all plant parasitic nematodes and with special attention to the nematodes on the Risk List. A total of 258 soil samples were studied, originating from 54 different plant species and 20 different countries. Despite the small number of samples, several quarantine nematodes and species from the Risk List were detected, including new nematode–plant combinations. This survey illustrates that plants with adhering soil can be a pathway for the introduction of listed nematodes, including those from the Risk List, to the EU/EPPO region. This information might encourage a more risk‐based approach to performing import inspections.     

Invasive alien plants in plant health: a review of the past ten years

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) provides the background for National Plant Protection Organisations (NPPOs) to regulate and control invasive alien species that are harmful to plants. This subject was specifically discussed for the first time 10 years ago at IPPC level, and further explored by an IPPC open‐ended working group. The resulting concept was considered at EU level, and the EU Council supported the suitability of the plant health framework for these species, requesting the EU Commission to further analyse the needs for regulatory work in the EU plant health regime. Subsequently the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) started a new working programme. The international conference ‘Invasive alien species and the IPPC’ set a signal for IPPC contracting parties to encourage their NPPOs to enforce actions on invasive alien species. IPPC standards on pest risk analysis (PRA) were adapted so as to include invasive alien species harmful to plants, and a memorandum of cooperation was adopted between the Secretariats of the IPPC and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). At present, the EU Commission, DG Environment is developing a European strategy on invasive alien species. The EU Plant Health Regulatory System is currently subjected to a major evaluation process in which a clearer inclusion of invasive alien species into the system is one of the strategic discussions.     

Pest risk analysis and invasive alien plants: progress through PRATIQUE*

The EPPO Decision‐support scheme (DSS) for Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) was fundamentally revised by the PRATIQUE EU project. Based on the examples of Polygonum perfoliatum (mile‐a‐minute‐weed) and Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth), its applicability for invasive alien plants was tested. By means of a comparison of the risk analysis procedures with EPPO schemes before and after the project, pest group specific enhancements are outlined. For the two plants tested here, documented invasion history as well as biotic and abiotic requirements show that they can establish and spread in Europe and cause damage. PRATIQUE revisions to the EPPO DSS increased transparency, user friendliness and consistency for PRAs on invasive alien plants. This was accomplished through more comprehensive rating guidance, and aspects such as allowing individual risk elements to be documented and summarized to give a conclusive end result.     

Preventing a new invasive alien plant from entering and spreading in the Euro‐Mediterranean region: the case study of Parthenium hysterophorus

Parthenium or famine weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) is an annual plant originating from the Americas, which is a major invasive alien plant in almost all continents. While the deleterious impacts of the species on agriculture, human and animal health have been well documented, information on the pathways of entry of the species is only occasionally mentioned in the literature. As this invasive alien plant is only recorded as established in Israel and Egypt within the Euro‐Mediterranean region, the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization identified P. hysterophorus as an emerging threat. EPPO therefore performed a Pest Risk Analysis on this species to assess the risk it represents and to consider appropriate management options. The EPPO Pest Risk Analysis main outputs are summarized in this article, indicating the probability of entry of the species via the different pathways within the EPPO region, its probabilities of establishment and spread, and the magnitude of its potential agricultural, environmental and social impacts.     

EPPO Council Colloquium on 'Plant health and the environment', Dublin, 2000-09-21

The National Plant Protection Organizations of EPPO countries have a basic responsibility to prevent the introduction and spread of pests of plants and plant products. This has been for many years defined by the IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention) and now by its new revised text. The Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization has in the past 10 years aimed to prevent the use of phytosanitary measures as unjustified barriers to trade. In the past 2 years, new constraints have appeared, particularly on account of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). International co-operation is now developing on biosafety (restricting the movement of potentially dangerous organisms, whether GMOs, alien species or invasive species) and on the protection of the environment and biodiversity as such. The new obligations of countries under the CBD, and the measures which they can take to implement them, overlap to a significant extent with their obligations under the IPPC. The responsibilities and tasks of NPPOs (under Ministries of Agriculture) can at a technical level be extended to cover the concerns of the CBD, but in so doing may conflict with those of the equivalent authorities under the Ministries of the Environment. The aim of the EPPO Council Colloquium in Dublin was to examine these areas of potential overlap and conflict and consider the consequences for the international organizations concerned with plant health (like EPPO) and for the NPPOs.     

Top 20 environmental weeds for classical biological control in Europe: a review of opportunities, regulations and other barriers to adoption

Classical biological control remains the only tool available for permanent ecological and economic management of invasive alien species that flourish through absence of their co‐evolved natural enemies. As such, this approach is recognized as a key tool for alien species management by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) and the European Strategy on Invasive Alien Species (ESIAS). Successful classical biological control programmes abound around the world, despite disproportionate attention being given to occasional and predictable non‐target impacts. Despite more than 130 case histories in Europe against insect pests, no exotic classical biological control agent has been released in the EU against an alien invasive weed. This dearth has occurred in the face of increasing numbers of exotic invasive plants being imported and taking over National Parks, forests and amenity areas in this region, as well as a global increase in the use of classical biological control around the world. This paper reviews potential European weed targets for classical biological control from ecological and socioeconomic perspectives using the criteria of historical biological control success, taxonomic isolation from European native flora, likely availability of biological control agents, invasiveness outside Europe and value to primary industry and horticulture (potential for conflicts of interest). We also review why classical biological control of European exotic plants remains untested, considering problems of funding and public perception. Finally, we consider the regulatory framework that surrounds such biological control activities within constituent countries of the EU to suggest how this approach may be adopted in the future for managing invasive exotic weeds in Europe.     

庐山外来植物调查研究

[目的]为进一步了解庐山地区现有外来植物现状,掌握庐山外来植物数据,为庐山外来植物管理提供参考依据.[方法]运用线路踏查法进行野外调查并结合相关文献、标本资料,对庐山外来植物种类、生活型、 原产地、引入途径以及外来入侵植物种类进行研究.[结果]庐山外来植物共有89科309属448种:(1)菊科植物种类最多,有69种,约占总数的15.4％;(2)草本类外来植物有289种,占比最大,约64.5％;其次是乔木,83种,约占总数的18.5％;(3)原产于美洲的植物最多,有178种,约占总数的39.2％;其次是亚洲,有106种,约占23.3％;欧洲、非洲和大洋洲所占植物较少;(4)大部分外来植物为有意引种,引种目的主要为观赏;(5)庐山外来入侵植物有115种,占外来植物总数的25.67％.[结论]庐山的生态环境特殊,外来植物种类丰富,建议加强外来植物监管监测、科学引种,同时加大外来入侵植物危害宣传,完善外来入侵植物防治措施.     

New protocols to assess the environmental impact of pests in the EPPO decision‐support scheme for pest risk analysis*

Assessing the potential environmental impact of alien plants and plant pests is notoriously difficult. New protocols have been developed in the framework of the EC project PRATIQUE to provide guidance on environmental impact assessment in the EPPO pest risk analysis (PRA) decision‐support scheme and enhance consistency between risk assessors and risk ratings for different pests. A set of questions with rating guidance and examples is provided, and individual scores are summarized into final scores, using a hierarchy of risk matrices, to assess current and potential environmental impacts. Two separate protocols are available: for alien plants and for other pests. These protocols could also be used to assess environmental impact in other PRA schemes as well as to assign alien species to regional black lists or to prioritize species for management decisions.     

EPPO Study on pest risks associated with the import of tomato fruit

Tomato fruit are currently imported from different parts of the world to the EPPO region, and tomato is an important crop throughout the EPPO region both as an outdoor and indoor crop. The risk that tomato fruit may act as a pathway of introduction of new pests was identified after the introduction of Tuta absoluta in the EPPO region in 2006. A study was launched in 2013, to produce a list of pests associated with the pathway of fruit of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato). The objectives, process and first outcomes of the study are presented here. One main outcome of the study is the recommendation of a general phytosanitary import requirement for a phytosanitary certificate for tomato fruit, thereby ensuring that tomato fruit are inspected at export.     

Invasive aquatic plants in the aquarium and ornamental pond industries: a risk assessment for southern Ontario (Canada)

An assessment of the invasive risk associated with the establishment and dispersal of plants available in the aquarium and ornamental pond industries in the Greater Toronto area (Canada) was made. In the risk model, sales volumes of individual taxa were used as a proxy for propagule pressure, to assess pathway risk potential. Organism risk potential, the ability to become established and disperse associated with a release, was assessed using an analysis of the biological traits of the species. Discriminant correspondence analysis was used to predict which biological traits were useful in discriminating native plants from alien invasive plants and alien non‐invasive plants. Importantly, a relatively small number of biological traits appear to be useful in predicting whether an alien aquatic plant had the characteristics that would support establishment and/or dispersal in new environments. Aquatic plants distributed by the industries that are cold tolerant, able to propagate by fragments and use a number of dispersal methods are of particular concern as potential invaders. The model identified 11 alien plants in the trade that have a high risk of becoming invasive, and an additional 52 with moderately high risk.     

Rapid surveys for inventorying alien plants in the Black Sea region of Turkey

The presence, distribution or abundance of many invasive alien plants is positively correlated with roads, so roads need to be taken into consideration when planning a survey in a poorly studied area. During the two field surveys organized in the framework of the 2nd Workshop on Invasive Plants in the Mediterranean Type Regions of the World, 1 81 alien species were observed in the investigated area, i.e. 70 neophytes and 11 archeophytes (including 9 doubtful species), with 54 new records for the DAISIE inventory. Three of these species, Acalypha australis, Microstegium vimineum and Polygonum perfoliatum, were recorded near a tea factory, and the import of material for tea processing is expected to have been their pathway of introduction. The results of this survey in the region of Trabzon in North‐East Turkey show that roadside surveys are a useful tool for early detection efforts, in compiling and updating national or regional inventories (especially with time and budget constraints). This survey, being organized in the framework of an international workshop, enabled knowledge to be shared between experts in the field, and training of students and researchers. These survey methods could be adapted, improved, and used elsewhere by others seeking to use early detection as part of their overall weed strategy or to gather baseline data on invasive alien plants in a poorly studied area.