Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 5 • Number 10 • 20th March 2001

Invasive Species and Biodiv-Climate Change Linkages on Agenda of SBSTTA-6

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Over 520 participants from 96 governments, intergovernmental and non- governmental organisations met for the sixth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-6) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Montreal, Canada, from 12-16 March. Delegates met in two Working Groups to discuss issues related to invasive alien species (IAS), as well as scientific assessment, the Global taxonomy Initiative, climate change and biodiversity, and migratory species.

Invasive alien species

Discussions on IAS focused on four thematic areas: an integrated approach; prevention, early detection and incursion response; eradication; and mitigation of effects. One of the key priorities in this area is harmonisation of terminology essential for any joint activities, which could lead CBD work in an alternative direction on setting standards. Some are concerned, however, that these discussions might revive the trade-environment conflicts that plagued the negotiations on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, since the growing significance of standards in international trade makes supposedly “neutral” scientific and technical deliberations highly political.

The Subsidiary Body also reconsidered the draft Guiding Principles for the prevention, introduction and mitigation of impacts of alien species (available at http://www.biodiv.org/cross-cutting/alien/default.asp). However, due to time constraints and political disagreements, SBSTTA-6 failed to resolve the most contentious issues, including the precautionary approach, ‘guidelines’ versus ‘principles’, state responsibility, and intentional introductions, deferring these issues to the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP-6) of the CBD, currently scheduled for April 2002.

Invasive alien species are considered to be the most important threat to biological diversity loss after habitat destruction. “In today’s highly integrated world, where tourism and trade offer more and more opportunities for unwanted species to hitchhike to new homes, we urgently need a more effective international system for turning back the tide of harmful non-native species, said Klaus Töpfer, executive director of UNEP. The direct economic costs of AIS are thought to amount to many billions of dollars annually as arable weeds reduce crop yields; weeds degrade catchment areas and freshwater ecosystems; alien plants are introduced into wilderness and natural areas; pests and pathogens of crops, livestock and forests reduce yields and increase control costs; and discharged ballast water together with hull fouling introduces harmful aquatic organisms into the marine environment.

Links between climate change and biodiversity

The second Working Group dealt with the intersecting issues related to climate change and biodiversity. In his keynote speech, Robert Watson, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel, highlighted potential changes resulting from climate change that will impact on biodiversity, including changing precipitation patterns and sea levels; effects on hydrological, agricultural, physical and ecological systems; species composition; and habitat fragmentation. Many delegates expressed disappointment with the lack of urgency and action regarding climate change, particularly on coral bleaching, calling for a recommendation to the resumed UNFCCC COP-6 in July that urgent measures be taken to mitigate climate change impacts. Several delegates also highlighted the need for assessing impacts of biodiversity loss on climate change, and proposed assessing biological loss and mitigation measures.

The recommendations from SBSTTA-6 will be forwarded to COP-6 of the CBD, to be held in The Hague, the Netherlands, from 8-19 April 2002. The next meeting of the SBSTTA is scheduled for 12-16 November 2001 in Montreal, Canada.

Documents submitted to SBSTTA-6 are available at: http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meeting.asp?lg=0&wg=sbstta-06. For daily coverage of the meeting, see http://www.iisd.ca/biodiv/sbstta6/index.html.

“Tiny But Deadly, Invasive Pests Rampant Worldwide,” ENS, 12 March 2001; ENB Vol. 9 No. 186, 19 March 2001.