Recommendations
15. The
Government must engage with the EU's work in revising the Plant
and Animal Health regulatory frameworks to ensure the result is
a unified approach to biosecurity threats between these regulatory
frameworks and the invasive species framework. (Paragraph 11)
16. Given
the vulnerability of biodiversity in the UK Overseas Territories
to invasive species and its unique value, it is imperative that
the Government assist the Territories to assess and address the
pathways for newly arriving species. It should provide them with
further support to address the most pressing gaps in their biosecurity
frameworks and to draw up 'lists of concern' for the Territories
in line with those that will be required for the EU 'Outermost
Regions' by the proposed EU directive. (Paragraph 13)
17. Public
Health England should be integrated into the work of the Non-native
Species Secretariat, to help it address human health and well-being
considerations. (Paragraph 17)
18. The Government
should use the opportunity of the ongoing revision of its Non-native
Species Strategy to begin a public debate on the implications
of changes in our biodiversity and ecosystems driven by still
increasing climate change and international trade, including our
approach to nature conservation. (Paragraph 20)
19. It is
critical that the Government invests in the regulatory science
underpinning risk assessment to streamline listing processes.
The revised Non-native Species Strategy should set out how regular
horizon-scanning exercises will be used to prioritise species
for risk assessments, and to inform the EU list of species of
concern.(Paragraph 33)
20. The Government
should follow a precautionary principle approach by not waiting
for either [Defra's] pathways research or the IMO work on ballast
water sampling and analysis before immediately moving to ratify
the Ballast Water Convention. (Paragraph 37)
21. Defra
needs to develop an approach to surveillance that integrated voluntary
wildlife recording with professional surveillance and identification.
There should be reporting systems that facilitate communication
across a range of affected parties; with Natural England, the
Environment Agency, local authorities and others ensuring that
there are databases of invasive species distribution at the local
level. (Paragraph 42)
22. Rapid
Response Plans for early eradication should be developed by the
Non-native Species Secretariat, with other agencies, for all the
species on the national and EU lists of concern that are not yet
established in Great Britain. The relevant bodies in England—Natural
England, the Environment Agency, the Forestry Commission and the
Marine Management Organisation—should agree an oversight
framework on invasive species to ensure clear allocations of responsibilities.
The Government should commission research on the lessons from
previous eradication campaigns in the UK and internationally to
inform future programmes and rapid response plans. (Paragraph
45)
23. The Government,
in conjunction with the Non-native Species Secretariat, should
have invasive species action plans in place for all the species
on the national and EU lists of species of concern that are established
in Great Britain, to ensure long-term control funds are being
effectively spent. Those invasive species for which clear desired
outcomes cannot be established should be removed from the national
list.(Paragraph 50)
24. Invasive
Species Action Plans should set out a clear view of the required
restoration state of native habitats and species. If such clear
outcome requirements cannot be determined, the use of control
measures should be critically re-evaluated. (Paragraph 52)
25. The Government
should take the opportunity of the Law Commission Review of Wildlife
Legislation and the introduction of the proposed EU regulation
to revamp the Schedule 9 process, including providing a transparent
listing mechanism overseen by the Non-native Species Secretariat.
There should be clearly stated and agreed criteria for listing,
similar to those for the UK Plant Health Register, and that list
should be publicly available and continuously updated on the basis
of risk assessment.(Paragraph 61)
26. The Government
should implement the Law Commission's recommendations to tighten
the invasive species legislation for England and Wales, which
should be a priority for the Government's legislative agenda.
(Paragraph 65)
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