Challenges and solutions in early detection, rapid response and communication about potential invasive alien species in forests

Abstract

Invasive alien species (IAS) are an important threat to forests. One of the best ways to manage potential IAS is through early detection and rapid response (EDRR) strategies. However, when dealing with IAS in forests, EU regulations are divided betweenphytosanitary regulations and IAS regulations. A version of EDRR for the former hasbeen in place in the EU for more than 15 years while the latter is still in the process ofbeing implemented. During 2019, a workshop was held to gather international expertson different plant health pests and IAS. The purpose of this workshop was to identifythe opportunities and difficulties in applying the EDRR system in the EU phytosanitaryand IAS legislation to four species for providing suggestions to improve the EDRRsystem. The model species are well known and come from different trophic levels.These species were the American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), the grey squirrel(Sciurus carolinensis); and the plant health pests Geosmithia morbida and Emerald ashborer (Agrilus planipennis). We identified the similarities in the challenges of earlydetection, rapid response and communication of these species. For all species, difficultiesin species identification, knowledge gaps on the pathways of spread, a lack of resourcesand uncertainty over which national government service was the competent authoritywere identified as the main challenges. Other challenges like public perception for thegrey squirrel or methodological problems were species-specific. Regarding the rapidresponse: public perception, determination of the eradication area, sufficient scientificcapacity and the lack of resources were common challenges for all species. Therefore,collaboration between institutes dealing with plant health pests and IAS can lead tobetter control of both groups of unwanted organisms in forests.