Invasive Alien Species – Questions and Answers

Invasive Alien Species
The Government of Canada, the CFIA, and An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada
Invasive Alien Species Partnership Program

Invasive Alien Species

Q1 What are invasive alien species (IAS)?

IAS are plants, animals and micro-organisms that, when introduced outside of their natural past or present distribution, spread and cause serious and often irreversible damage to Canada's native ecosystems, economy and society.

Q2 Why are IAS dangerous?

According to the World Conservation Union (IUCN), IAS are the second most significant threat to biodiversity after habitat loss. IAS can be predators, competitors, parasites, cause diseases, or hybridize with domestic plants and animals. They often dominate the ecosystems they invade, causing losses to productivity and market access and increasing costs to producers.

Q3 Are all alien species bad?

No. Alien species are species that are not native to a particular area. Many can survive in areas without ever becoming a problem and others are even beneficial. For example, most of the agricultural crops in Canada are alien, yet they are essential for supporting our food supply. However, alien species that are also "invasive" are bad. Invasive alien species reproduce and spread in new environments-dominating vegetation and bodies of water, changing the composition of ecosystems and displacing native species.

Q4 Where do IAS come from?

IAS originate on other continents, neighbouring countries, or in differing ecosystems within Canada.

Q5 How do IAS arrive in Canada?

IAS are introduced through intentional and unintentional human action by air, land and water pathways. They arrive as hitchhikers on commodities, stowaways in transportation or disease in wildlife. Examples of pathways include ballast water, recreational boating, wood packaging materials and international trade in plants or animals and plant or animal products.

Q6 How long have IAS been in Canada?

Although the introduction of IAS dates back to the time when humans started to travel between continents, globalisation (increased transport, trade, travel and tourism) is bringing an unprecedented number of IAS .

Q7 Why is the introduction of IAS increasing?

IAS are a cost of globalisation. The introduction of IAS increases in tandem with trade liberalisation, which creates shorter transit times and increases countries of origin, travel destinations, trade volumes, and diversity of products.

Q8 What IAS are currently located in Canada?

In Canada, IAS include at least 27% of all vascular plants, 181 insects, 24 birds, 26 mammals, 2 reptiles, 4 amphibians, several fungi and molluscs, and 55 freshwater fish. Dutch elm disease, leafy spurge, Japanese knotweed, purple loosestrife, green crab, spiny water flea, gypsy moth, common carp, rainbow trout, starlings, European boar, sea lamprey, Asian longhorned beetle, and emerald ash borer are some of the better-known examples of IAS in Canada.

Q9 How do IAS affect Canadians?

IAS have far-reaching impacts to the Canadian economy, environment and society. Economical impacts are mostly felt in large industry sectors such as agriculture, horticulture and forestry (e.g. loss of income). Canadians feel the social impact of IAS when entire landscapes are altered by them.

Q10 To what extent do IAS impact our economy?

The estimated annual cumulative lost revenue caused by just 16 IAS is between $13 billion to $35 billion. IAS damage to the agricultural and forestry industries results in an estimated $7.5 billion of lost revenue annually. The discovery of IAS in Canada can also result in trade restrictions imposed by foreign countries, interrupting billions of dollars in trade. (Colautti, Robert, Sarah Bailey, Colin van Overdijk, Keri Amundsen, and Hugh MacIssac. 2003. Characterised and projected costs of nonindigenous species in Canada.)

Q11 How do IAS impact trade?

Maintaining pest-free commodities is essential for maintaining export markets. The World Trade Organization Agreement on Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Measures allows countries to apply least-trade-restrictive measures on the movement of goods to prevent the entry of pests that threaten agriculture and forest crops and the environment. The loss of trade results in loss of income, reduced land value, property damage and other social impacts.

The Government of Canada, the CFIA, and An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada

Q12 How are IAS being addressed in Canada?

The Government of Canada and its Provincial/Territorial counterparts introduced An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada in September 2004. This Strategy will minimize the risk of IAS to the environment, economy, and society and protect environmental values such as biodiversity and sustainability.

Q13 What is the scope of this new strategy?

The strategy includes the prevention of intentional and unintentional introductions of invasive alien species to and from other countries, or from species moved across provincial and territorial borders within Canada, or between ecosystems within a region.

Q14 What are the goals of An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada?

Four equally important goals form the foundation of the IAS strategy:

1. to prevent the harmful intentional and unintentional introduction of IAS to Canada
2. to detect and identify new invaders
3. to respond rapidly to new invaders upon detection
4. to manage established and spreading invaders through eradication, containment and control

Q15 Who is responsible for administering An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada?

One of the core components of the strategy is cooperation among participating federal and provincial governments, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Environment Canada (EC), Natural Resources Canada - Canadian Forest Service (NRCan-CFS), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Parks Canada and all provincial ministries responsible for forestry, agriculture or natural resources. Funds have been distributed to departments to support existing programs in support of the overall IAS strategy and to develop programs where none exist.

There are four thematic working groups.

• Leadership and Coordination - Environment Canada (EC)
• Terrestrial Plants and Plant Pests - Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
• Terrestrial Animals - EC
• Aquatic Invasive Organisms - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

Q16 What is the CFIA's role?

The CFIA provides leadership in the implementation of the national IAS strategy as it relates to invasive alien plants and plant pests. It aims to protect Canada from potentially harmful plants and plant pests by focussing on prevention through science-based regulation, surveillance, pest eradication, risk management and public awareness. The CFIA's Plant Health Program works to prevent the entry or establishment of new plant pests, to limit the distribution of pests that are already present, and to certify plants and plant products for pest-free domestic and international trade. The list of pests regulated by the CFIA includes insects, mites, molluscs, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, viruses, phytoplasmas, and some parasitic plants.

Q17 How will the CFIA implement the Strategy?

This strategy fits in well with the work the Agency is already undertaking in four main areas:

1. design and delivery of new programs
2. strengthening of operational activities - additional resources for surveys and inspections
3. increased communications - providing information to public and stakeholders
4. intelligence gathering - scientific research and information sharing

Q18 Were there pre-existing measures to control IAS ?

A suite of existing federal legislation manages IAS : The Plant Protection Act, Health of Animals Act, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Seeds Act, Pest Control Products Act, Forestry Act, Natural Resources Act, Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, Oceans Act, Fisheries Act, Canada Wildlife Act, Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulations of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, Canada National Parks Act, and others.

Invasive Alien Species Partnership Program (IASPP)

Q19 How does IASPP fit in to An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada?

The IAS Partnership Program is an integral part of the strategy. Funding is distributed to provinces, municipalities and non-government organizations and to groups who are doing work in support of the goals of the national IAS strategy. The IASPP is administered by Environment Canada, with the support of the CFIA and DFO.

Q20 Who decides which projects receive funding under IASPP?

IASPP is managed by a Steering Committee, which is comprised of Environment Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. In addition to members from the Steering Committee, a Technical Review Committee, which may include representatives from Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Forest Service, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Parks Canada Agency and Canada Border Services Agency, will provide technical, scientific and policy advice for the review, selection, and management of IASPP projects. Funds released under IASPP are administered by Environment Canada.

Q21 Where can I find more information about IASPP?

Additional information is available on Environment Canada's EcoAction Community Funding Program web site.

Q22 Where can I find more information about IAS?

More information about this topic is available by visiting the CFIA Invasive Alien Species page, or by calling 1-800-442-2342/TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).