Defra and the Welsh Government are committed to taking a strong stance against invasive alien species. The UK government’s 25 Year Environment Plan has a goal to enhance the biosecurity of the country, including tackling invasive alien species. The Nature Recovery Plan for Wales is aimed at addressing the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, including by increasing the resilience of our natural environment. The two bodies are taking action against the threat that these species pose in a variety of ways:

through the direct intervention of local action groups

targeted eradication

better education about and awareness raising of their impact

the research and development of biocontrol agents to help stop their spread.

The purpose of this consultation is to obtain your views on the management measures being considered by Defra and the Welsh Government for species of Union concern which are widely spread in England and Wales pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No. 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. Your responses will help them develop their thinking in this area so that they can put in place processes that will allow for effective action to be taken to manage species of Union concern that are widely spread in England and Wales.

Consultation

The consultation is open from 18 July 2019 to 12 September.

More information can be found on Defra’s website.

Please be aware that to allow for a longer consultation, and consultation analysis period, the coming into force date for the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019, will be amended from 1 October 2019 to 1 December 2019.

NBN Atlas Wales

Remember that you can see the invasive non-native species currently of most interest to Wales, on the Wales INNS Portal on the NBN Atlas Wales