WIREDGOV

Defra consults on further protection for UK wildlife from non-native species

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (408/07) issued by The Government News Network on 8 November 2007

Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government today launched a joint consultation to strengthen protection given to the UK's native wildlife.

Non-native species that become invasive are considered the second greatest threat to wildlife worldwide after habitat destruction. Their impacts can be far reaching - they have adverse impacts on native wildlife by predation, competition and spread of disease. They can threaten economic interests such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries and development. Controlling the release of invasive non-native species into the wild is a key element of conserving our native wildlife.

The consultation contains proposals for updating the list of non-native birds, fish, animals and plants under schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Many of these species are already established in the wild, but further releases are allowed only under licence.

A total of 74 species are proposed for addition, including Rosy-Faced Lovebird, Grass Carp, Water Fern and Virginia Creeper. Seven animal species are proposed for removal, including the Mongolian Gerbil and the Himalayan Porcupine, which are no longer present in the wild.

The consultation also looks at banning the sale of certain invasive non-native species under section 14ZA of the Act. These species are considered to be strongly invasive and there is a real risk of escape and spread into the wild as a result of their presence and availability through trade.

These species include the American Bullfrog, a number of Crayfish species, Floating Pennywort and the Water Hyacinth.

A study in 2005 showed that there are 2,721 non-native species in England, of which 1,798 (66%) are plants.

Joan Ruddock, Minister for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said:

"Invasive non-native species pose a very serious threat to our native plants, animals and the local environments they live in, costing the British economy around £2billion per year. The threat is greater than ever with climate change. It is vital that we do all we can to prevent these species from establishing in the wild.

"The power to ban the sale of invasive non-native species has not been used before. Many involved in trading non-native species have already taken the positive decision to stop selling those that are potentially invasive, and actively promote good practice in their industry and amongst their customers. The ban on sale is another tool to be used in a measured way to target a limited number of species which are especially invasive."

The Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing Jane Davidson said:

"Controlling the release of invasive non-native species into the wild is key to conserving our native flora and fauna and contributes towards our goal of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010. It is important that we have the appropriate systems in place to prevent these species establishing in the wild, and we must do all we can to ensure that the wider environment is capable of supporting our native habitats and species biodiversity."

The consultation will run until 31 January 2008. A copy of the consultation, and more detail on the species can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/wca-schedule9/index.htm

Notes for editors

1. Examples of Costs of Non-Native Species:
* There are very large costs involved with trying to remove non-native species, for example the costs of trying to eradicate Rhododendron from Snowdonia National Park have been in the region of £45m (source Plantlife). If nothing is done to ameliorate the situation the costs are likely to increase and continue to increase in the future as more and more problem species become established and spread.

* Japanese Knotweed is a plant species that can cause serious damage to property and costs of eradication from GB has been estimated at £1.56bn (source Plantlife). Aquatic and semi-aquatic non-native plants can cause flooding by eroding banks and blocking water courses. If no mitigation measures are taken the incidence of flooding will increase, causing damage to property, increasing insurance costs and claims, and possibly even affecting the property market.

* Non-native plant species compete with native flora by very rapid growth which reduces the amount of sunlight available to other species. For example, rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) shades out native plants and causes particular problems in the internationally important oak and hazel woodlands of the west coast.

* Besides significant ecological impacts, non-native species can also cause serious economic effects. For example, non-native crayfish impact on salmon fisheries by predation on salmon eggs and fry.

2. Schedule 9: The main piece of legislation covering non-native species is in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Section 14 prohibits the introduction into the wild of any species of animal (including birds, reptiles, fish, invertebrates etc.) that is not ordinarily resident in and is not a regular visitor to Great Britain in a wild state, or any species of animal or plant listed on schedule 9. Most non-native species listed on schedule 9 are already established in the wild, but continue to pose a conservation threat to native biodiversity and habitats, such that further releases should be regulated. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has recommended specific species for addition or removal from Schedule 9, which we are now consulting on.

3. Ban on Sale Order: Section 14ZA of the 1981 Act introduces a new offence of selling, offering or exposing for sale, or having in one's possession or transporting for the purpose of sale, certain animals or plants, or anything from which such an animal or plant can be reproduced or propagated, such as eggs or seeds. An Order may be made prohibiting the sale of any live animal or plant within the scope of section 14 of the Act. Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales have recommended specific species for inclusion in a ban on sale Order. Key stakeholders have been pre-consulted on this list.

4. It will be particularly important to understand the potential impact that any ban on sale will have on businesses which trade in the proposed species because it will also be necessary to give consideration to relevant international trade provisions. Those aspects will be taken forward in close consultation with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

5. Responses to the consultation on non-native species carried out in 2003/04 generally supported a broad prohibition as currently found under section 14, and the retention of a schedule identifying those established non-native species that should be subject to continued control. However, it was recognised that the current schedule is out of date and should be subject to an early review.

6. The consultation covers England and Wales. Consultations on proposals to update schedule 9 and to prohibit sale of certain non-native species took place in Scotland earlier this year.

7. Subject to the outcome of the consultation exercise, it is currently proposed that any changes to Schedule 9 would take effect from 1 April 2008. An Order prohibiting sale of certain species may take longer depending on the international aspects of trade controls.

8. Earlier this year the Government consulted on the draft Invasive Non-Native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain http://www.nonnativespecies.org/07_Public_Consultations.cfm. The Strategy will be published next year. For more information go to: http://www.nonnativespecies.org

9. Further information on invasive non-native issues can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/non-native/index.htm

Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website http://www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development

To subscribe or unsubscribe to Defra's mailing list go to: http://www.gnn.gov.uk/ Once on the GNN website see Sign up

Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Website http://www.defra.gov.uk