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Kumschick S, Bertolino S, Blackburn TM, Brundu G, Costello KE, de Groot M, Evans T, Gallardo B, Genovesi P, Govender T, Jeschke JM, Lapin K, Measey J, Novoa A, Nunes AL, Probert AF, Pyšek P, Preda C, Rabitsch W, Roy HE, Smith KG, Tricarico E, Vilà M, Vimercati G, Bacher S. Using the IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa to inform decision-making. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14214. [PMID: 38051018 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
The Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) is an important tool for biological invasion policy and management and has been adopted as an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) standard to measure the severity of environmental impacts caused by organisms living outside their native ranges. EICAT has already been incorporated into some national and local decision-making procedures, making it a particularly relevant resource for addressing the impact of non-native species. Recently, some of the underlying conceptual principles of EICAT, particularly those related to the use of the precautionary approach, have been challenged. Although still relatively new, guidelines for the application and interpretation of EICAT will be periodically revisited by the IUCN community, based on scientific evidence, to improve the process. Some of the criticisms recently raised are based on subjectively selected assumptions that cannot be generalized and may harm global efforts to manage biological invasions. EICAT adopts a precautionary principle by considering a species' impact history elsewhere because some taxa have traits that can make them inherently more harmful. Furthermore, non-native species are often important drivers of biodiversity loss even in the presence of other pressures. Ignoring the precautionary principle when tackling the impacts of non-native species has led to devastating consequences for human well-being, biodiversity, and ecosystems, as well as poor management outcomes, and thus to significant economic costs. EICAT is a relevant tool because it supports prioritization and management of non-native species and meeting and monitoring progress toward the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Kumschick
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sandro Bertolino
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Tim M Blackburn
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Giuseppe Brundu
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Palermo, Italy
| | - Katie E Costello
- Biodiversity Assessment and Knowledge Team, Science and Data Centre, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Thomas Evans
- Ecologie Systématique et Evolution, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | - Piero Genovesi
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- ISPRA, Rome, Italy
- IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group, Roma, Italy
| | - Tanushri Govender
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Jonathan M Jeschke
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Lapin
- Austrian Research Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), Vienna, Austria
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Institute for Biodiversity, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Ana Novoa
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Ana L Nunes
- Biodiversity Assessment and Knowledge Team, Science and Data Centre, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Cambridge, UK
| | - Anna F Probert
- Zoology Discipline, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Petr Pyšek
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Cristina Preda
- Department of Natural Sciences, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania
| | | | - Helen E Roy
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, UK
| | - Kevin G Smith
- Biodiversity Assessment and Knowledge Team, Science and Data Centre, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Cambridge, UK
| | - Elena Tricarico
- National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Palermo, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Montserrat Vilà
- Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) and Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Sven Bacher
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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Dimitrova A, Csilléry K, Klisz M, Lévesque M, Heinrichs S, Cailleret M, Andivia E, Madsen P, Böhenius H, Cvjetkovic B, De Cuyper B, de Dato G, Ferus P, Heinze B, Ivetić V, Köbölkuti Z, Lazarević J, Lazdina D, Maaten T, Makovskis K, Milovanović J, Monteiro AT, Nonić M, Place S, Puchalka R, Montagnoli A. Risks, benefits, and knowledge gaps of non-native tree species in Europe. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.908464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Changing ecosystem conditions and diverse socio-economical events have contributed to an ingrained presence of non-native tree species (NNTs) in the natural and cultural European landscapes. Recent research endeavors have focused on different aspects of NNTs such as legislation, benefits, and risks for forestry, emphasizing that large knowledge gaps remain. As an attempt to fulfill part of these gaps, within the PEN-CAFoRR COST Action (CA19128) network, we established an open-access questionnaire that allows both academic experts and practitioners to provide information regarding NNTs from 20 European countries. Then, we integrated the data originating from the questionnaire, related to the country-based assessment of both peer-reviewed and grey literature, with information from available datasets (EUFORGEN and EU-Forest), which gave the main structure to the study and led to a mixed approach review. Finally, our study provided important insights into the current state of knowledge regarding NNTs. In particular, we highlighted NNTs that have shown to be less commonly addressed in research, raising caution about those characterized by an invasive behavior and used for specific purposes (e.g., wood production, soil recultivation, afforestation, and reforestation). NNTs were especially explored in the context of resilient and adaptive forest management. Moreover, we emphasized the assisted and natural northward migration of NNTs as another underscored pressing issue, which needs to be addressed by joint efforts, especially in the context of the hybridization potential. This study represents an additional effort toward the knowledge enhancement of the NNTs situation in Europe, aiming for a continuously active common source deriving from interprofessional collaboration.
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