Log in

You will be redirected to IUCN Accounts to input your credentials. After log in you will be redirected back to this site.

Rest assured your personal data resides with IUCN and IUCN only. For more information please review our Data policy.

WCC 2020 Res 004 - Activity Report

Submitted by john.wilson on Fri, 10/25/2024 - 10:57
General Information
Urgent action against the grass Cortaderia selloana outside of its natural distribution range
IUCN Constituent: 
IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group 2021-2025
IUCN Constituent type: 
IUCN Species Survival Commission 2021-2025
Period covered: 
2024
Geographic scope: 
Global
Country/Territory: 
South Africa
In implementing this Resolution your organization has worked/consulted with...
IUCN Secretariat: 
No
Implementation
Indicate and briefly describe any actions that have been carried out to implement this Resolution: 
ActionDescriptionStatus
Policy influencing/advocacyIn South Africa the taxon is listed, 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- None -
Policy influencing/advocacyIn terms of measures to stop the e-commerce in invasive alien species via the Internet the following item was part of the CBD in 2024 CBD/COP/16/2 Item 21 Invasive alien species Included an Annex II 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 organizationsCompleted
Scientific/technical activitiesImpact 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. https://iucn.org/resources/conservation-tool/environmental-impact-classification-alien-taxa The IPBES IAS Thematic Assessment launched in September 2023 was a milestone in the communication of efforts to address the impact of biological invasions. The experts who complied the assessment that were not already part of the IUCN ISSG have been invited to become members. The Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) is the IUCN global standard for measuring the severity of environmental impacts caused by animals, fungi and plants living outside their natural range. The IUCN ISSG has not conducted a prioritisation exercise such that it would be possible to declare that a particular taxon is of particular concern in a particular region. Neither was this specifically done as part of the IPBES IAS Assessment. The IPBES IAS Assessment in Supplementary Material 1.4 does, however, consider characteristic invaders in particular regions based on reported impact. On-going
Scientific/technical activitiesIn South Africa a recent MSc study has been submitted for examination looking at the issue in South Africa, with a key finding that the use of inflorescences in the floriculture industry (for display) can lead to the spread of seed. While efforts have been made to sterilise such flowers, these appear to be ineffective.On-going
Identify and briefly describe what future actions are planned for the implementation of this Resolution: 
Future ActionDescription
Scientific/technical activitiesCompletion of EICAT assessment and publication and dissemination.