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Making the EU legislation on invasive species a conservation success

Tollington, Simon, Turbe, Anne, Rabitsch, Wolfgang, Groombridge, Jim J., Scalera, Riccardo, Essl, Franz, Roy, Helen, Shwartz, Assaf (2015) Making the EU legislation on invasive species a conservation success. Conservation Letters, 10 (1). pp. 112-120. E-ISSN 1755-263X. (doi:10.1111/conl.12214) (KAR id:51744)

Abstract

The European Union’s (EU) new legislation concerning Invasive Alien Species (IAS) is a ground-breaking and commendable attempt to set a common standard for combating IAS across political jurisdictions at a multinational scale. However, the regulation, underpinned by a list of IAS of Union concern, affords Member States a degree of operational flexibility and its successful implementation will be dictated by appropriate national enforcement and resource use. In evaluating this EU legislation, we provide pragmatic recommendations based upon a geo-political analysis of the pan-European capabilities to combat IAS and discuss measures to avoid the risk that the regulation will promote a piecemeal response by stakeholders instead of a truly collaborative effort. We highlight a major deficit in the funding mechanisms to support a comprehensive implementation of the legislation and stress the importance of consultation with the broader scientific community, including with key stakeholders, businesses and the general public. Our recommendations will create incentives for industries, raise awareness among citizens and stakeholders, and help establish a social norm for the EU and further afield. The legislation offers a collaborative Europe the chance to demonstrate its commitment to tackling the problems of IAS and to achieve a successful conservation breakthrough of international importance.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/conl.12214
Uncontrolled keywords: Biological invasions, cooperation, environment, European legislation, funding, management, policy, risks
Subjects: J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
J Political Science > JN Political institutions and public administration (Europe)
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH541 Ecology
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: Simon Tollington
Date Deposited: 11 Nov 2015 17:00 UTC
Last Modified: 08 Dec 2022 21:17 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/51744 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Tollington, Simon.

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Groombridge, Jim J..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6941-8187
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