Alberta Invasive Alien Species Management Framework: Background and Purpose

Introduction - continued

In Alberta, invasive species identification and management has primarily been reactive with identification, prevention, or control efforts isolated within agency mandates. Alberta’s invasive species legislation (e.g., Weed Control Act) focuses on the control of established species and the prevention of further spread, but does not encompass potential invasions from other geographic areas. Resources are often allocated to high-profile invasive species, and do not always reflect the potential risk associated with an invasive species. Lesser-known species, for which the impacts are not well understood, are often overlooked.

The Invasive Alien Species Risk Management Framework (the Framework) is a systematic process intended for use by governments, private companies and individuals to efficiently and effectively manage invasive species in Alberta. The Framework is a risk-based approach to identifying existing and potential invasive species, assigning a management authority, assessing the potential environmental, economic, and social effects, and outlining management options.

The Framework is designed to increase coordination and communications across Government of Alberta departments, increase transparency and accountability, be cost-effective and provide a consistent, standardized approach to managing the potential risks posed by unintentionally introduced invasive species. The Framework is proposed to achieve several outcomes, including decreasing the risk of invasive species, improving preparedness and awareness, enhancing communication, collaboration, and coordination among agencies, and more effectively allocating resources for invasive species management.

The private and non-governmental organization sector can also utilize the framework to assist them with identifying the threat and management of potential invasive alien species. Overall, communication, collaboration, and coordination between different management authorities and between management authorities and other groups such as community groups, non-government organizations, private landowners, academics and the general public is essential since these groups are valuable resources when it comes to the discovery and information gathering of invasive species. It is also important for such groups to know who to contact with information concerning invasive species which will ensure a more complete coverage of the landscape and streamline identification processes. Identifying potential invasive species is important because the prevention of a potential invasion may be the most cost-effective management option.

The Invasive Alien Species Risk Assessment Tool (RAT) is a systematic and quantitative decision-making system which can be used by governments, companies and individuals. The RAT can assist in the prioritization of alien species for management by their likelihood to establish, spread and adversely affect Alberta’s economic base, social values, natural resource productivity and biodiversity. It allows for a consistent approach to assess the effects of alien species threatening to enter or currently established in Alberta. The tool outputs can provide a focus for a concerted effort on containing, controlling or eradicating alien species across jurisdictions. In addition, information from the RAT can be used to inform and support communication strategies, and early detection/rapid response initiatives to prevent the establishment and spread of alien species.

The assessment consists of a series of distinct indicators that are arranged in a systematic manner to assess overall invasiveness of a species in the assessment area. To assess each indicator, a number of questions are posed. The answer for each question corresponds to a numerical score which is totaled for a measure of the “invasiveness” of the species.

The tool was developed to be simple to use assuming the assessor will have a minimum level of expertise. Guidance and rationale are provided to assist with interpretation of the questions and subsequent scoring however it is assumed the assessor will have some familiarity with the scientific basis of the questions and of ecology.

The RAT is based on commonly accepted principles of risk assessment and scientifically defensible ecological properties of invasive species. The format of the tool was chosen following careful consideration of the types of frameworks or tools used in other jurisdictions, and those proposed by academic researchers. The chosen risk assessment framework is a modified approach assessing biological characteristics along with environmental, economic and social effects. For each of the risk questions used to screen the species, the underlying scientific rationale or justification for its inclusion is provided. The ecological theory or scientific studies supporting the risk indicator are cited.

The RAT evaluates the likelihood of introduction and establishment of invasive species, but does not provide an estimate of the temporal scale of invasions. While it is possible to identify certain biological characteristics that allow organisms to invade new areas and avenues by which they might be introduced to new areas, it is impossible to predict the rate at which the invasion will actually occur. Past experience suggest invasions by different species do not proceed at the same rate nor do introductions of the same species into different environments. Due to variable climatic conditions or specific features of the introduction (e.g., number of individuals introduced), there is sometimes a post-introduction lag phase that precedes a rapid population increase. However, the risk assessment tool is flexible and supports a re-examination of a species over time with the addition of new information.

Purpose of the Risk Assessment Tool

The purpose of the Invasive Alien Species Risk Assessment Tool (RAT) is to provide a systematic and quantitative decision-making system that can be used by governments, companies and individuals. The RAT can assist in the prioritization of alien species for management by their likelihood to establish, spread and adversely affect Alberta’s economic base, social values, natural resource productivity and biodiversity.

The RAT allows for a consistent approach to assess the effects of alien species threatening to enter or currently established in Alberta. The tool outputs can provide a focus for a concerted effort on containing, controlling or eradicating alien species across jurisdictions. In addition, information from the RAT can be used to inform and support communication strategies, and early detection/rapid response initiatives to prevent the establishment and spread of alien species.

Characteristics of the Risk Assessment Tool

The Risk Assessment Tool allows a predictive, quantitative assessment of the likelihood of adverse effects from alien species in the assessment area. The assessment consists of a series of distinct indicators that are arranged in a systematic manner to assess overall invasiveness of a species. To assess each indicator, a number of questions are posed. The answer for each question corresponds to a numerical score. Each indicator is given a score that is then tallied into an overall total score. The total score is a measure of the “invasiveness” of the species.

The tool has been constructed to be simple to use assuming the assessor will have a minimum level of expertise. Although guidance and rationale are provided on interpretation of the questions and subsequent scoring, it is assumed the assessor will have some familiarity with the scientific basis of the questions and of ecology in general, as the assessor will need to identify reference sources used to address various risk evaluation factors.

The RAT is based on commonly accepted principles of risk assessment and scientifically defensible ecological properties of invasive species. The format of the tool was chosen following careful consideration of the types of frameworks or tools used in other jurisdictions, and those proposed by academic researchers. The chosen risk assessment framework is modified from an approach which has been validated for a variety of types of organisms, and has been used successfully in several other jurisdictions to rank potential invasive species. For each of the risk questions used to screen the species, the underlying scientific rationale or justification for its inclusion is provided. The ecological theory or scientific studies supporting the risk indicator are cited.

The RAT evaluates the likelihood of introduction and establishment of invasive species, but does not provide an estimate of the temporal scale of invasions. While it is possible to identify certain biological characteristics that allow organisms to invade new areas and avenues by which they might be introduced to new areas, it is impossible to predict the rate at which the invasion will actually occur. Past experience suggest invasions by different species do not proceed at the same rate nor do introductions of the same species into different environments. Due to variable climatic conditions or specific features of the introduction (e.g., number of individuals introduced), there is sometimes a post-introduction lag phase that precedes a rapid population increase. However, the risk assessment tool is flexible and supports a re-examination of a species over time with the addition of new information.