Eradication of IAS

What is being done?

In order to safeguard Malta’s rich biodiversity, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) was launched for adoption on 12^th December 2012. The national strategy defines a comprehensive framework to safeguard Malta’s biodiversity over the period 2012-2020. It includes measures to address the issue of invasive alien species (IAS), and to maintain or improve the conservation status of threatened and/or protected native species.

Indeed, Target 9 of Malta’s NBSAP aims to prevent, as far as practical, the introduction and establishment of new IAS and identifies and priorities those invasive species which are established. Instead, measures BI2 and BI4 of the NBSAP identify the need to set up a systematic and coherent National Strategy on Invasive Alien Species​ and the publication of National Codes of Good Practice on Invasive Alien Species, respectively; these have been issued for public consultation in 2018.

In addition to such policies, other guidance documents have also been published, such as the “Guidelines on managing n​on-native plant invaders and restoring native plant communities in terrestrial settings in the Maltese Islands“, which provides guidance, both on the removal of invasive plants, and on efforts for reinstating or restoring native plant communities.

In 2015, Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 on the Prevention and Management of the Introduction and Spread of Invasive Alien Species came into force with the aim to control various IAS. In this regard, it established a list of Union concern. This regulation has been transposed into national legislation through the Control of Invasive Alien Species of European Union Concern Regulations (S.L. 549.119).

1. eradication;
2. containment, or;
3. control.

Eradication is the favoured approach; however, it is only practical when the invasion is at its early stages, that is, when the populations are small and isolated. On the other hand, both control (which reduces the presence of the invader) and containment (which limits its further spread) aid in addressing larger invasions. Nonetheless, the latter two approaches require indefinite investments of time, effort and money to keep the invader at bay.

A well-planned eradication programme is arduous and lengthy. It should consider various aspects, amongst which:

• habitat conditions and requirements;
• repeated interventions;
• resource availability;
• regular monitoring, as well as;
• the possibility of future invasions​.