WCC 2020 Res 004 - Progress Report

Little information has been provided on the measures taken to control and eradicate the species in its non-native range.

IUCN Secretariat/DG has undertaken many activities aiming to informing stakeholders on threats from IAS, including through its work across a number of projects alongside the SSC supporting the EC in the implementation of the EU IAS Regulation, including the production of a management best practice report for Cortaderia jubata (C. selloana jubata). IUCN have also worked with the International Maritime Organisation to publish guidelines on biofouling for recreational sailing. In addition the SSC has published the first batch of IUCN Environmental Impact Classficaiton for Alien Taxa (EICAT) assessments on the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). Impact assessments for a number of grasses have recently been submitted to the EICAT Authority. The process of completing an EICAT impact assessments for Cortaderia selloana provides part of the foundational evidence needed for prioritisation by those tasked with such prioritisation of efforts.

In 2023, the IPBES assessment on IAS was published, which incorporated data and expertise from IUCN and the SSC ISSG. IUCN have since worked with IPBES and the assessment Co-Chairs to raise the profile of the assessment and the threats posed by IAS across many international fora, including CBD.

In relation to policy, the Comité national de l´UICN, France supported the inclusion of pampas grass among the plant species concerned by the draft decree relating to the updating of the lists of IAS in metropolitan territory (currently open to public consultation). Note that in the Cortaderia selloana has not yet been listed on the EU IAS Regulation list of Union concern (latest update was 2022).

IUCN and the ISSG have also engaged on the issue of e-commerce of IAS through CBD discussions and working groups on IAS. These discussions have resulted in guidance being adopted at CBD COP 16 (Annex II to the decision on IAS) "Identification and minimization of additional risks associated with cross-border e-commerce in live organisms and the impacts thereof with sections on: Suggested actions for national and subnational authorities and border agencies; Suggested actions for web marketplaces (sale platforms), e-payment service providers and postal and express courier services; and Suggested actions for relevant international organizations, bodies and agreements, including standard-setting organizations."

In South Africa the species is listed on the National List of IAS, and a risk analysis has recently been completed as per a specific scheme (Kumschick et al. 2020), noting that such documents are not in the public domain yet.