1 Tackling Invasive Alien Species in AichiJune 28 Wed., 2017 Tackling Invasive Alien Species in Aichi Hidemasa Ishihara Wildlife Group, Natural Environment Division, Department of the Environment, Aichi Prefectural Government
2 Four Crises against Biodiversity in JapanCrisis 1 Species and habitat degradation due to excessive human activities e.g.）Extinction of Japanese Ibis Crisis 2 Degradation of Satochi-Satoyama* due to insufficient level of management e.g.）Explosion of Deer or Bamboo Bush Crisis 3 Ecosystem disturbances caused by the introduced alien species and chemical contaminations e.g.）Largemouth Bass, Agri-chemicals Crisis 4 Crisis caused by Global Warming e.g.）Difficulty for Polar Bears
3 Order of today’s PresentationLegal Frame on IASs National Law & Prefectural Code Aichi’s experiences on IAS Three principles & Allocation of roles Experiences on some IASs 3 Conclusion
4 Invasive Alien Species(IAS) Act （enforced in 2004.6)Aim of the act：To prevent negative influence to ecosystem, human health, agriculture, forestry and fisheries caused by designated invasive alien species Designated Alien Species：Species which are not indigenous to a local area and possibly harmful to ecosystem, human health, , agriculture, forestry and fisheries ⇒ 132 species objective to the regulations under the Law Banned in principle ・fostering, storing, conveying ・importing, trading ・releasing Punishment Imprisonment 3 year or less Fine \3millions or less for individuals \1 thousand million or less for corporate body （※）Emergency conveying or temporary storing by public officers are not regulated by the law
5 IASs confirmed to inhabit AichiGroup Confirmed IASs Mammals Raccoon, Nutria Birds Red-billed leiothrix, Hwamei Reptiles/ Amphibians Snapping Turtle, Chinese striped-necked turtle, Hybrid between Chinese striped-neck and Japanese pond turtle/Reeve̓s pond turtle, American Bullfrog Fresh Water Fishes Channel Catfish, Mosquitofish, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass Insects Argentine Ant Invertebrate animals Red-back Spider, Golden Mussel Plants Lance-Leaved Coreopsis, Senegal Tea Plant, Golden Glow, Madagascar Ragwort, Water Speedwell, Burr Cucumber, Oblong-Leaved Sundew, Parrotfeather Watermilfoil, Salt-Water Cordgrass, Water Lettuce No. of species 26species
6 Natural Environment Conservation Code of Aichi PrefectureThe Code was amended in 2008 to add articles about Alien Species. Article 55 Designation and Announcement of Alien Species The governor is obligated to designate and announce the alien species which can be seriously harmful to the ecosystems. （28species are now designated.） None can release, plant nor seed designated species without good reason. Article 56 Providing Information The prefectural government should make effort to provide information about harmful alien species.
7 Designated Alien Species under Prefectural CodeHabitat Confirmed IASs Fresh Water (12spc) Red-eared slider, Mute swan, Alligator snapping turtle, Japanese perch, Nile tilapia, Pond loach, Channeled apple snail, Water lily, Carolina fanwort, Glossostigma elatinoides, Grassy Arrowhead, Yellow iris Land (10spc) Masked musang, Lucanidae, Taiwanese bamboo large carpenter bee, Circe, Dragon swallowtail, Glossy privet, Scabiosa japonica var. alpine, pompom weed, Wandering jew, Moso bamboo Coast (6spc) Green crab, Striped barnacle, Euspira fortune, Hard clam, Opuntia spp., Yucca (Saltwater cordgrass; until June 2016) No. of species 28 species Many IASs were introduced as pets or useful animals/plants. Few have come unintendedly.
8 Methodology to prevent IASs In AichiThree Principles to prevent IASs ① Not introduce Avoid or be very careful to adopt Alien species. Choose indigenous species. ② Not abandon Keep pets until they die. Do not throw them away. Before having pets, make sure if you can keep until they die. ③ Not spread Do not implant any kind of non-indigenous creatures. National, subnational and municipal governments are making effort of airing those above.
9 Methodology to control IASs in AichiRoles of Prefecture Roles of municipalities ●Capacity Building ・Holding training workshop for municipality stuffs on Alien Species Control ・Compiling a Handbook, leaflets and Web Sites about Alien Species ・Dispatch of experts to municipalities ●Awareness Raising（Web page, Publicaton etc.） ●Seizing inhabitants of IAS ●Pest Control of IAS ●Collaboration with local stakeholders, such as landowners, regional bands, NPOs and so on
10 Salt-water cordgrass （Spartina alterniflora ）Features ・Designated Alien Species under the national law ・A gramineous plant originated in North America ・The only plant to invasive to brackish water band ・Very fertile and expanding rapidly ・Changing wetland to grassland, so harmful to the birds and benthos in wetland.
11 Countermeasure to CordgrassApr. 2011 ・ Found in Aichi by an expert, for the first time in Japan. Oct. 2011～Dec. 2012 ・Ministry of Environment, Aichi Prefectural government and Toyohashi City had been cooperating to pull out them with advices of experts and more than 800 man-days work of students, companies, volunteers. ・Shielding where it regrow strongly, Corking cracks of bunds with mortar Mar. 2012 ・Local Council for Alien Plant was established Feb. 2014 ・All Japan Anti-Spartina Network(NPO) was established in Aichi Present ・Relevant organizations are collaborating to attack sporadic regrowth of them. Aug.2011
12 Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile)Features Designated Alien Species under the national law One of worst 100 IASs in the world Originated in South America Found first in 1993 in Japan, Now confirmed in 12 prefectures of 47 Found first in 2005 in Aichi Now confirmed in 3 cities in Aichi Damaging indigenous ants, Crops. Invading houses Counter Measures Being the beginning of invasion, it is important to find early and take measure quickly to prevent expanding. Major measure is putting poison bait in and around their habitat, at five meters intervals. Holding workshops for municipality stuffs to get advices on pest control by experts. 11
13 Red-necked longhorn (Aromia bungii)Features To be designated Jul, 2017 under national law Originated in China Found in Aichi, for the first time in Japan, in 2012 Now confirmed in 7prefectures of 47 Damaging cherry, plum, peach Counter Measures Being the beginning of invasion, it is important to find early and take measure quickly to prevent expanding. Finding frass, catch and kill imagoes. Shielding trunks by meshes of smaller than 4mm intervals, during the season of emerging and oviposition(June to August) Trees with many holes should be cut down. Exchanging of information among relevant municipalities and Aichi Prefecture. 12
14 Lance-leaved coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolate)Features Designate under national law Originated in North America Introduces for greenery in 1880’s Expanded across Japan, confirmed in every prefecture. Asteraceae herbaceous perennial Bloom May to July Spreading on river bed or road side, expeling indigenous plants There are two additional selling points. First, (click) the Cabinet will decide the Basic Policy for efficient implementation of this Act. Second, (click) IASs, UASs, and the similar alien species (click) will be obliged to attach a certificate to verify its type as an importation procedure. This certificate (click) is hoped to become a powerful tool for customs officers (click) to prevent illegal import of IASs and UASs. (click) 13
15 Countermeasures against Lance-leaved CoreopsisBeing spread very widely, it is important to generate large scale of movement to take effective measures. Major measure is pulling/digging out; easy to everyone Aichi has started Anti-campaign cooperating with municipalities since (16 of 54 are active in 2017) So beautiful and harmful, that they give people good opportunity to notice about IASs and learn how to treat with IASs “Let’s pull out Lance-leaved Coreopsis together, from May to July” 14
16 Exterminating collaboration with municipalities and private companiesDate: June 3, 2017 Participants: 158people Yield: 600kg Date: May 20, 2017 Participants: 301people Yield: 1,720kg 15
17 Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)Features ・Designated under Prefectural Code of Aichi ・One of Worst 100 IAS in the world ・Originated in North America ・Imported since 1950’s as mainly pets in very large scale. Over one million per year was imported mid 1990’s. Still being imported around a hundred thousand per year now. ・Grow to over 30cm and live 30years or longer. ・Confirmed in every prefecture in Japan. ・Estimated number is around 8 millions in 2016, comparing indigenous turtles are around 1 million. ・2/3 of all turtles in Japan are reported Red-eared sliders by investigation of NACS-J, in 2013 Countermeasures Mar. 2014: Nagoya City compiled a “Guideline to Control Red-eared slider” : Ministry of Environment and Toyota City are collaborating to establish the way how to control Red-eared slider Present: 8 municipalities are active 16
18 Proportion of turtles inhabiting AichiJapanese pond turtle Reeve’s pond turtle Common slider Hybrid Other Extraction from the Handbook compiled by Aichi Prefecture 17
19 New technologies against red-eared sliders←Island trap for turtles Searching with drones ↓
20 Conclusions The problem of IASs is an emerging serious challenge on biodiversity. Many IASs were introduced in past for some practical reasons and have spread widely. Some IASs are just invading or landing right now. We need to block landing or invading of new IASs. And also, we need to reduce the pressure of IASs already spread.
21 The points to tackle IASs１ Prevention against IASs (1) Legal regulation national and subnational (2) Raising awareness on biodiversity and IASs (3) Border Control 2 Early Finding and early actions against IASs at early stage of invading (1) Ministry of Environment is monitoring for unintended aliens at major ports. (2) To take early actions, good connection with MoE and municipalities is important. Collaboration with NPOs, citizens, volunteers etc. is effective. 3 Reduction of IASs already spread widely (1) Aiming to reduce the pressures by IASs at important places of region. (2) The process should be long, mobilization of many local stakeholders is important. Municipalities and reginal councils for ecosystem network established by Aichi prefecture are expected to play big roles in the process. (3) Development of new technologies could be effective. 19