The EPPO prioritization process for invasive alien plants
Although invasive alien plants are gaining increased attention within EPPO countries, there is no existing widely agreed method to identify those alien plants that are considered invasive and represent the highest priority for pest risk analysis. In the framework of the ad hoc Panel on Invasive Alien Species, EPPO has proposed a prioritization process for invasive alien plants designed (i) to produce a list of invasive alien plants that are established or could potentially establish in the EPPO region and (ii) to determine which of these have the highest priority for an EPPO pest risk analysis.
Some species of the EPPO List of invasive alien plants (Ailanthus altissima, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Baccharis halimifolia, Buddleia davidii, Carpobrotus acinaciformis and C. edulis, Cortaderia selloana, Fallopia japonica, F. sacchalinensis and F. x bohemica, Ludwigia grandiflora and L. peploides) and of the EPPO Alert List (Akebia quinata, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Araujia sericifera, Cornus sericea, Delairea odorata, Eriochloa villosa, Fallopia baldschuanica, Hakea sericea, Humulus japonicus, Hydrilla verticillata, Microstegium vimineum, Myriophyllum heterophyllum, Nassella neesiana, N. tenuissima and N. trichotoma, Pistia stratiotes, Salvinia molesta, Sesbania punicea, Verbesina encelioides, Pennisetum setaceum) have been assessed through the EPPO prioritization process, and the results are also presented in an article published in the EPPO Bulletin.
The EPPO group in charge of the development of the prioritization process will meet in February 2011 to assess further species listed in the EPPO system.
Sources
Brunel S, Branquart E, Fried G, van Valkenburg J, Brundu G, Starfinger U, Buholzer S, Uludag A, Joseffson M & Baker R (2010) The EPPO prioritization process for invasive alien plants. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 40, 407-422.
EPPO Secretariat (2010-11).