The European Commission published today in the Official Journal the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/968 of 30 April 2018 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to risk assessments in relation to invasive alien species.
When a species is introduced to an area outside of its normal area it is termed a non-native species. This can cause significant damage to the environment, the economy, our health and the way we live. Read more about COST Action, European Information System for Alien Species and visit their website.
Page content last updated on 2019-11-11. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-11.
Within the framework of the draft law n°7205 implementing the Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 on IAS 1, the Luxembourg Parliament TV (Chamber-TV) explains the context in a movie published on Facebook.
At the beginning of April 2018 the website neobiota.lu was relaunched. In addition to a new WordPress theme that is still compatible with all possible screen sizes, the 136 Internet pages on which individual invasive species are presented have been updated. On each species page a reporting link is provided which opens the corresponding reporting page on the data portal of the National Museum of Natural History. As soon as a listed invasive alien species is reported, an alert email is automatically sent to members of IAS Group Luxembourg, who dispatch the information to experts in charge of data validation. This procedure constitutes a crucial tool in early detection of IAS.
A number of new Internet pages have been added, including the list of IAS of EU concern and the Black, Watch, Alert Lists and a full listing of IAS relevant to Luxembourg.
If you, dear readers, notice any inconsistencies or typing errors, please do not hesitate to → inform us.
In order to combat invasive alien species with a significant impact on biodiversity, public health or the economy, a European regulation (No. 1143/2014) defines a whole range of measures and obligations. Member States must therefore, among other things, set up a monitoring system, provide for management measures or even eradication, and impose restrictions on the keeping and marketing of these species.
The conference aims to give an overview of the obligations arising from these regulations and to present the targeted species with a particular focus on those already present in Luxembourg. Finally, the widely used species’ action plans currently under development will be presented.
Within the framework of setting up a surveillance system in Luxembourg, the contribution of field workers is a key element. The conference is also intended to motivate naturalists and other interested parties to share their observations.
Detailed program
The European Regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species – Nora Elvinger (MDDI)
Species covered by European regulations – Sandra Cellina (ANF), Carole Molitor (AGE), Christian Ries (MNHNL)
Action Plans for the Management of Widely Spread Alien Species – Tiago de Sousa (ANF)
Organisation: Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure – Environment Department (MDDI), Nature and Forestry Administration (ANF), Water Management Administration (AGE), National Museum of Natural History (MNHNL), The Luxembourg Naturalist Society (SNL), Association of Luxembourg Biologists (ABIOL).
The children’s magazine Panewippchen, edited for the members of the Panda Club of the Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History, has published an interview with Dr Christian Ries, curator of the Department of Ecology:
The last page of the article encourages the young readers to participate in a citizen science survey concerning the recent spread into the wild of the cherry laurel (PrunuslaurocerasusL.), a common garden plant in Luxembourg, mostly planted to build hedges. Fruits can be dispersed over long distances by birds.
Interested children are asked to look in the forests around their neighbourhood, the evergreen cherry laurel being very easy to spot in winter time, when trees and shrubs lose their leaves.
The children are asked to send the following basic information to :
How many cherry laurel individuals have been spotted?
Where were they spotted (using GPS of portable devices)
Observer’s name, age, address and email address.
Page content last updated on 2019-11-11. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-11.
DNADIVE aims to develop a toolbox for the molecular monitoring of invasive crayfish in the streams of Luxembourg. Three exotic species (Orconectes limosus, Pacifastacus leniusculus and Astacus leptodactylus) and a native one (Astacus astacus) will be targeted for the project.
This molecular toolbox will encompass several techniques of detection comprising (1) a simple amplification method easily performed in a laboratory with few elements, (2) a digital droplet amplification (ddPCR) which is a more elaborated lab method that can allow for a higher detection sensitivity and a possible quantification of DNA that could be related through the proxy of biomass and abundance to the size of the populations detected and (3) an isotherm amplification method (iPCR) i.e. a simple, cost effective approach which will allow for field detection usable by untrained individuals.
The results will enable the development of a predictive species distribution model for the target species and to infer their impact on freshwater communities through the comparison with previous sampling campaigns. This set of methods has the high potential to efficiently contribute to early detection and routine monitoring of the invasive crayfish species in Luxembourg, thus allowing for timely and efficient decision-making and appropriate management.
Page content last updated on 2019-11-12. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-12.
By Tim Adriaens & Frank Huysentruyt, Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Brussels.
In Flanders, Canada geese are causing social, economic and ecological impacts. The population is managed using a combination of methods which requires an adaptive management approach involving multiple groups and stakeholders and monitoring of the population. The lecture will also address the Egyptian goose.
Tim Adriaens is a research associate at the Research Institute for Nature and Forest in Brussels where he co-ordinates invasive species activities throughout the institute. Current invasion biology research topics include, among others: sustainable control of invasive amphibian and feral exotic geese populations, invasive weeds, ruddy duck eradication and monitoring, aquatic invasive species, exotic insects used for biological control.
Frank Huysentruyt is also a research associate at the Research Institute for Nature and Forest and specialised in Wildlife Management and Alien Species.
Tuesday 28 November 2017, 18:30 – 20:00
Musée national d’histoire naturelle
25, rue Münster, L-2160 Luxembourg
On 19th September 2017, a forester captured a Nutria (Myocastor coypus) in Osweiler (commune of Rosport, eastern Luxembourg) and put it to sleep.
The Luxembourg authorities were notified of this detection of an IAS of Union concern (Anonymous 2016) on 26 September 2017 and an Eradication Measure Set was also submitted on 26 September 2017, pursuant to Article 17(1) of R. 1143/2014 (Anonymous 2014).
The species was first documented in Luxembourg in 1957 at the Alzette river next to Hunsdorf (Municipality ofLorentzweiler). Currently, it is only observed sporadically in Luxembourg. Because of its occurrence in the bordering regions of France (Chiers, Moselle) and Germany (Saar), it is likely that the species will populate national watercourses within the near future (Becker-Krüll & Schaefer 2013).
Bibliography
Anonymous, 2014. Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. Official Journal of the European Union 4.11.2014 L 317: 35-55.
Anonymous, 2016. Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2016/1141 of 13 July 2016 adopting a list of invasive alien species of Union concern pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Union L 189: 4-5.
Becker-Krüll, L. & P. Schaefer, 2013. Jagdbare Wildtierarten Luxemburgs. Administration de la nature et des forêts, Luxembourg, 96 pp.
Page content last updated on 2019-11-12. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-12.
Communicated on July 13th 2017 by the IAS team of DG ENV, European Commission