Questions
- General questions about invasive alien species
- About invasive alien species and Canada
- How do invasive alien species arrive in Canada?
- How long have invasive alien species been in Canada?
- Why is the introduction of invasive alien species increasing?
- Which invasive alien species are currently located in Canada?
- How do invasive alien species affect Canadians?
- To what extent do invasive alien species impact our economy?
- How do invasive alien species impact trade?
- An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada
- How are invasive alien species being addressed in Canada?
- What is the scope of this strategy?
- What are the goals of An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada?
- Who is responsible for administering An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada?
- Were there pre-existing measures to control invasive alien species?
- Invasive Alien Species Partnership Program
Questions and Answers
General questions about invasive alien species
What are invasive alien species?
Why are invasive alien species harmful?
According to the World Conservation Union (IUCN), invasive alien species are the second most significant threat to biodiversity after habitat loss. Invasive alien species become predators, competitors, parasites, hybridizers and diseases to native plants and animals. They often dominate the ecosystems they invade, upsetting the natural balance that existed prior to their introduction.
Are all invasive alien species bad?
Yes. However, not all alien species are invasive. Invasive alien species reproduce and spread in their new environments, dominating vegetation and water bodies and displacing native species. Other alien species are beneficial; for example, most of our agricultural crops are alien species. Many alien species survive without ever becoming a problem.
Where do invasive alien species come from?
Invasive alien species originate on other continents, neighbouring countries, or in differing ecosystems within Canada.
About invasive alien species and Canada
How do invasive alien species arrive in Canada?
Invasive alien species 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, and international trade in plants or animals and plant or animal products.
How long have invasive alien species been in Canada?
Although the introduction of invasive alien species 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 invasive alien species to Canada. Only recent has there been a significant increase in the number of species arriving, increasing their overall threat to our economy and environment.
Why is the introduction of invasive alien species increasing?
Invasive alien species are a cost of globalisation. The introduction of invasive alien species increases in tandem with trade liberalisation, which creates shorter transit times and increases countries of origin, travel destinations, trade volumes, and diversity of products.
Which invasive alien species are currently located in Canada?
In Canada, invasive alien species 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 invasive alien species in Canada. In addition to these numbers is the ongoing possibility of existing invasive alien species that have not yet been detected.
How do invasive alien species affect Canadians?
Invasive alien species 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 invasive alien species when entire landscapes are altered, when diseases are introduced or carried by invasive alien species (such as west Nile virus), or when Canadians can no longer export certain goods.
To what extent do invasive alien species impact our economy?
The Government of Canada is working hard to reduce the impact of invasive alien species on our economy by stopping new invasive alien species introductions. The economic impact of invasive alien species is significant – the estimated annual cumulative lost revenue caused by just 16 invasive alien species is between $13 to $35 billion. Invasive alien species damage to the agricultural and forestry industries results in an estimated $7.5 billion of lost revenue annually. The discovery of invasive alien species in Canada can also result in trade restrictions imposed by foreign countries, interrupting billions of dollars in trade.
How do invasive alien species 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.
An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada
How are invasive alien species 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 invasive alien species to the environment, economy, and society and protect environmental values such as biodiversity and sustainability.
What is the scope of this strategy?
The strategy includes the prevention of intentional and unintentional introductions of invasive alien species from other countries, or from species moved across provincial and territorial borders within Canada, or between ecosystems within a region.
What are the goals of An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada?
Four equally important goals form the foundation of the invasive alien species strategy:
- to prevent the harmful intentional and unintentional introduction ofinvasive alien species to Canada;
- to detect and identify new invaders;
- to respond rapidly to new invaders upon detection;
- to manage established and spreading invaders through eradication, containment and control.
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. Currently, the participants, though not all necessarily named in the Strategy, include: the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Environment Canada (EC), Natural Resources Canada’s 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. Following a Treasury Board submission, funds were distributed to CFIA, Environment Canada, DFO and NRCAN-CFS to support existing programs in support of the overall invasive alien species strategy and to develop programs where none exist.
There are four thematic working groups.
· Leadership and Coordination
· Terrestrial Plants and Plant Pests
· Terrestrial Animals
· Aquatic Invasive Organisms
Were there pre-existing measures to control invasive alien species?
A suite of existing federal legislation manages invasive alien species: 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
How does the Invasive Alien Species Partnership Program fit in to An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada?
The Invasive Alien Species 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 Strategy. The Invasive Alien Species Partnership Program is administered by Environment Canada, with the support of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
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.
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