TTS cases alien and invasive species

Alien and invasive species
assessment and interpretation in SAN standards

NCF • India
May 2012, Bali

Native and exotic species
SAN Standard definitions



– Exotic Species: Those species not native to the place
where they are found. Species introduced from other
regions or areas.
– Native Species: Those species that occur naturally in the
place where they are found. For the purpose of this
standard, naturalized species – exotic species that have
adapted and grow and multiply as if they are native –
are also considered as native if it is proven that they do
not cause negative economic or environmental impacts.


Native and exotic species


Interpretation criteria
– Principle 2 (ecosystem conservation)





2.2 Mitigation plan
2.8 Shade trees
2.5 to 2.7 Buffer zones
2.9 Landscape connectivity with vegetation

– Principle 3 (wildlife protection)
• 3.6 Exotic wildlife not to be introduced into farm

– Principle 8 (integrated crop management)
• 8.1 Biological control organisms


– Principle 9 (soil conservation)
• 9.1 and 9.3 Vegetated ground cover

Natives, aliens, and naturalised


Alien species / Exotics / Non-indigenous

Invasive alien species (IAS)

Non-invasive aliens

Naturalised species



Discussion points

How to find out alien or native?


Invasive or non-invasive?

Invasive aliens in aquatic ecosytems
Water hyacinth
Eichorrnia crassipes
Amazonia

Giant salvinia
Salvinia molesta
Brazil

Invasive alien trees
African tulip
Spathodea campanulata
Africa

Maesopsis
Maesopsis eminii
Africa


Invasive alien trees
Wattles
Acacia mearnsii / A. melanoxylon /
A. dealbata / A. mangium
Australia

Invasive alien shrubs
Lantana
Lantana camara
Central/South America

Siam weed
Chromolaena odorata
Florida to Argentina

Invasive aliens in grasslands
Scotch broom
Cystisus scoparius
Americas


Giant mimosa
Mimosa sp. / M. pigra.
C and S America

Gorse
Ulex europaeus
Europe

Invasive aliens: the creeps
Mile-a-minute
Mikania micrantha
Americas

Morning glory
Ipomoea sp.
Americas?

Wedelia
Sphagneticola trilobata

Americas?

Alien species in restoration
• Restoration is the process of assisting the recovery
of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged,
or destroyed. (SER 2004)
– Not ‘re-creation’
– Time scale (years)

Recovery and benchmarks


Recovery

Of form (habitat structure etc.)

Of function (growth and dynamics)

Towards a desired target / benchmark




Benchmark sites

Sites as they were prior to disturbance

Undisturbed, otherwise similar, sites

Some features of restoration


The use of locally native species

Plants/animals (species recovery)

‘How local is local?’



As high a diversity of species as possible/ needed


Related to benchmark sites of the project



Removal of alien/ exotic / non-indigenous species

Minimize disturbance to prevent re-colonisation

Weed removal

•Cut, uproot, & remove only weeds
– Lantana, Chromolaena, Mikania
•Native seedlings and saplings should not be cut

Restoration by tree removal
invasive alien species

2.8 Shade criterion


2.8: Evaluation of alternative shade tree species for tea
TRF

Toona ciliata
Melia dubia

Grevillea robusta

Invasive aliens in production
Robusta coffee and some shade tree species


Coffee can invade into
adjoining forests (esp.
Robusta)




Joshi et al. 2010


Alien shade trees like
Maesopsis eminii and
Leucaena leucocephala

06/05/10

Mimosa invisa (M. diplotricha) invading Kaziranga National Park, Assam

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Invasive alien animals

African giant snail
Achatina fulica

Marine / Giant
Neotropical toad
Bufo marinus
Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

And many others...
Marine toad, tilapia, crows and mynas on some islands...

Resources
• Global Invasive Species Database
www.issg.org/database/

• Wikipedia list of invasive species in Asia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_invasive_species_in_Asia

• Invasive alien species in SE Asia
http://www.arcbc.org.ph/arcbcweb/pdf/vol2no4/09-11_sr_invasive_alien_species.pdf

• Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN)
http://www.apfisn.net
http://apfisn.net/country-reports

• Let's explore...

Thank you