ONE SMALL STEP IN TACKLING INVASIVE SPECIES

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland and Environment Spokesperson, has today spoken out on the need for localised action to tackle non native invasive species which pose a threat to Scotland's biodiversity.

The MSP spoke out in a debate on the Invasive Non-Native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain and moved an amendment on behalf of Liberal Democrats.

Jim Hume said:

"Scotland is world renowned for its diverse flora and fauna, and we all have a responsibility to protect this jewel in the crown of our environment. Indeed, the UK has an obligation to deal with invasives as part of the Convention on Biological Diversity

"Liberal Democrats therefore welcome the publication of the Strategy. Its implementation will be crucial in safeguarding Scotland's most vulnerable native plants and animals, and will in the long term help to protect ecosystems.

The MSP continued:

"The Tweed Invasive Project has been successful in tackling giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed and Himalayan Balsam, but like others now needs resource to complete the job and save money long term. It's key to success being the local knowledge within the Forum. Its difficulty being the time to gain licences through agencies so that they could quickly tackle the non native species before they became invasive.

"The same goes for the American Signal Crayfish, now in endemic proportions in South Scotland, Loch Ken especially and also in the Tweed. It's being tackled by Tweed Foundation and the Galloway Fisheries Trust as Fishing in these areas brings large amounts of income to the areas, so the amphibious Crayfish is a serious threat to the economy of Scotland. Resources are needed to tackle this alien now, not only is it a faster breeder than our native Crayfish, but it is also a more ferocious eater of Salmon par and Trout alevins.

"The point of my amendment is that local groups need to take the lead through having responsibility and authority for an agreed catchment area, potentially taking in more than one local authority area and any local groups within with an environmental focus. The Tweed Forum treated the Tweed as a whole catchment because the seeds/rhizomes of the giant hogweed and knotweed were shown to travel through watercourses. Treating the whole river system as one catchment is far more effective than simply stopping any measures once it's over the border and into Northumberland for example. Cooperation is key.

"Localised measures, don't commit the Scottish Government to a limitless expenditure on invasives, but could be done by empowering local groups who have professional staff, such as the Tweed Foundation and Forum and the Galloway Fisheries Trust and the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts for Scotland, so that they can take local action to meet local problems as they identify them through local plans.

"But quick access to funding is an issue. Local bodies can control non native species early on, not just when they are established as an invasive problem, if they have resources. Dealing with any problem early on will keep costs down. Best value is good government.

"I believe that we have the knowledge and means in Scotland to deal with the problem of non native invasives in a practical way, and I hope that in accepting the Liberal Democrat amendment Ministers will take this real opportunity to take a lead in the UK to proactively deal with the problem of invasives by local empowerment."

ENDS

Note to editors:

A copy of Jim Hume's amendment together with the original motion is shown below:

Motion - That the Parliament welcomes the Invasive Non-Native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain; notes that this is one of the first comprehensive strategies on invasive non-native species to be developed in Europe; welcomes the Scottish Government's commitment to work in partnership with governments and organisations across these islands to implement the Strategy; and acknowledges that continued efforts are required by all partners to progress the key actions of the Strategy.

Amendment - (insert at end) recognises that prevention and early intervention are vital in protecting native species, habitats and ecosystems, and therefore calls on the Scottish Government to work with local organisations with a remit for the protection of Scotland's natural environment to find ways to expedite the timeous implementation of measures at a local level and to report back to the Parliament with the findings.