New legislation on invasive alien species including plants in Spain
New legislation was launched in Spain on invasive alien species, including plants, in December 2011, and it contains in its appendices a ‘Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species’. The introduction of species listed in this Catalogue is prohibited in the natural environment. Their possession, transport, movement, trade of live and dead specimens or propagules are also prohibited within Spain, as well as their export. Authorisations may nevertheless be granted for research or health reasons.
The inclusion of species in the Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species is made by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment (Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente) at the request of the Spanish regions or cities, but can also be done by an individual expert on the basis of technical justification. In both cases, a risk analysis needs to be performed.
Whenever a new alien species that may represent a threat is found in the Spanish territory, whether it is included in the Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species or not, an ‘Alert Team’ should be contacted urgently, and the competent authorities should take measures against the species. The species should be monitored, controlled and possibly eradicated; they should prevent the movement of infested commodities. The competent authorities should inform growers and traders of the presence of invasive alien species and take measures to limit the spread of such species when necessary.
For ornamental plants that are listed in the Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species but which were acquired or produced before the enforcement of this new legislation, a delay has been granted but the new legislation will have to be implemented before the 1st of December 2013. In the meantime, horticulturists should prevent the introduction of these species into the environment.
The plant species included in the Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species are listed in the table and the areas in Spain to which this legislation applies are indicated in the last column.
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Species
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Area of application
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Acacia dealbata (Fabaceae, EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants)
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Whole of Spain (except Canarias and Baleares)
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Acacia farnesiana (Fabaceae)
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Canarias only
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Acacia salicina (Fabaceae)
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Canarias only
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Agave americana (Asparagaceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Ageratina adenophora (Asteraceae)
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Canarias only
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Ageratina riparia (Asteraceae)
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Canarias only
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Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae)
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Whole of Spain (except Canarias)
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Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain
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Araujia sericifera (Apocynaceae, EPPO Alert List)
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Whole of Spain
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Arundo donax (Poaceae)
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Canarias only
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Asparagus asparagoides (Asparagaceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Atriplex semilunaris (Amaranthaceae)
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Canarias only
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Azolla spp. (Azollaceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Baccharis halimifolia (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain
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Buddleia davidii (Scrophulariaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain
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Cabomba caroliniana (Cabombaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain
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Calotropis procera (Asclepiadoideae)
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Canarias only
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Carpobrotus acinaciformis (Aizoaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain (except Canarias)
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Carpobrotus edulis (Aizoaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain (except Canarias)
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Cortaderia spp. (Poaceae)
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Whole of Spain (except Canarias)
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Cotula coronopifolia (Asteraceae)
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Baleares only
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Cylindropuntia tunicata (Cactaceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Cyrtomium falcatum (Dryopteridaceae)
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Canarias only
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Egeria densa (Hydrocharitaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain
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Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae, EPPO A2 List)
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Whole of Spain
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Elodea canadensis (Hydrocharitaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain (except Canarias)
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Fallopia japonica (Polygonaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain
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Furcraea foetida (Asparagaceae)
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Canarias only
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Helianthus tuberosus (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain
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Heracleum mantegazzianum (Apiaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain
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Ipomoea indica (Convolvulaceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Leucaena leucocephala (Mimosoideae)
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Canarias only
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Ludwigia spp.(except L. palustris) (Onagraceae, EPPO A2 List)
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Whole of Spain
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Maireana brevifolia (Amaranthaceae)
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Canarias only
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Myriophyllum aquaticum (Haloragaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain
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Opuntia dillenii (Cactaceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Opuntia maxima (Cactaceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Opuntia stricta (Cacataceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Pennisetum clandestinum (Poaceae)
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Canarias and Baleares only
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Pennisetum purpureum (Poaceae)
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Canarias only
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Pennisetum setaceum (Poaceae, EPPO Alert List)
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Whole of Spain
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Pennisetum villosum (Poaceae)
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Baleares only
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Phoenix dactylifera (Arecaceae)
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Canarias only
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Pistia stratiotes (Aroideae, EPPO Alert List)
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Whole of Spain
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Salvinia spp. (Salviniaceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Senecio inaequidens (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP)
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Whole of Spain
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Spartina alterniflora (Poaceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Spartina densiflora (Poaceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Spartina patens (Poaceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Stipa neesiana (Poaceae, EPPO Alert List)
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Canarias only
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Tradescantia fluminensis (Commelinaceae)
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Whole of Spain
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Ulex europaeus (Fabaceae)
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Canarias only
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Sources
Ministerio de agricultura, alimentación y medio ambiente, Boletín Official de Estado, Lunes 12 de diciembre de 2011, Núm. 29, Sec. I., 25 pp