Sir, – This week the UN published the 2023 Report on Global Invasive Alien Species (IAS). Invasive alien species are plants and animals that are accidently or deliberately introduced to an area where they are not normally found. The report highlighted IAS cause up to 60 per cent of plant and animal extinctions and therefore they represent a major threat to native plants and animals. Last year, the European Commission referred Ireland to the European Court of Justice for failing to implement the required provisions to prevent the introduction and spread of IAS. Ireland needs to develop an action plan to address the most important pathways of introduction and spread of IAS of concern to the EU.
In 2021, the Water Forum commissioned a research report, Invasive Alien Species in the Republic of Ireland: Policy Recommendations for their Management. The research was carried out by Prof Frances Lucy, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo; Prof Joseph Caffrey, INVAS Biosecurity Ltd; and Prof Jaimie Dick of Queen’s University Belfast, who are leading invasive alien species experts, and the research findings were shared with Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage officials in March 2022.
A key recommendation from the researchers is that a single lead division with responsibility for IAS management and control is essential and one should be set up and resourced without delay. This single lead division needs to ensure engagement across Government departments, sectors and agencies for efficient and effective IAS arrival prevention, control and management coherence. A national biosecurity strategy is needed that includes biosecurity guidelines and plans based on international best practice to expedite biosecurity practice and awareness.
An all-island IAS forum could bring together national and international IAS experts, scientists, policy makers, practitioners, and stakeholders to advise regarding IAS management and control to ensure effective outcomes.
The researchers carried out an economic analysis of the cost of IAS in Ireland. Based on an estimated cost of €2.1 billion in 2020, they reckon that, considering the increasing rate of species arrivals and the impact of IAS, management costs could increase to €26 billion a year by 2030. The UN states that IAS management costs have quadrupled every decade since 1970 so reducing arrivals and better management is essential to prevent the ecological cost but as well as the considerable financial cost.
While some progress is being made, such as recent resourcing of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) which is at at the early stages of drafting a national invasive species management plan.
The Water Forum is calling for the urgent establishment of a well-resourced lead division with responsibility to deliver this plan, to prevent the arrival of IAS, provide rapid response and eradication measures and to improve the management of already established IAS to contain and control them. There is also a need to raise awareness of the threat of IAS in Ireland. – Yours, etc,
Dr MATT CROWE,
Chairperson
National Water Forum,
Wexford.