Strengthening pathway management of alien species in island ecosystems

Sponsor: The Nature Conservation Society of Japan (NACS-J)
Co-sponsors: World Wide Fund for Nature – Japan ( WWF-Japan )
Wild Bird Society of Japan ( WBSJ )
Save the Dugong Campaign Center (SDCC)
Ramsar Network Japan
Japan Wildlife Conservation Society (JWCS)

RECALLING Resolution 5.021 Implementing the provisions on invasive alien species of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 (Jeju, 2012);

RE-EMPHASISING that Aichi Biodiversity Target 9 associated with the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 states that: “By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritised priority species are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment”;

RECALLING the Guiding Principles for the Prevention, Introduction and Mitigation of Impacts of Alien Species that Threaten Ecosystems, Habitats or Species adopted through Decision VI/23 of the Sixth Conference of Parties to the CBD (CBD COP6, The Hague,2002), and that Guiding Principle 7 on the role of States indicates that States should consider putting in place appropriate measures to control introductions of invasive alien species within the State according to national legislation and Dpolicies where they exist;

AWARE that introduction of alien species beyond a distinct biogeographic region poses a risk of biological invasion even within national jurisdictions;

NOTING that the Government of Japan plans to recommend to UNESCO that three islands of the Ryukyu archipelago, Amamioshima, Tokunoshima and Okinawa Island, be considered for World Natural Heritage status; and

RECOGNISING that the United States Marine Corps facility planned for construction at Henoko on Okinawa Island, requires 21 million cubic metres of soil and rock to be used in reclamation work, of which 17 million cubic metres will be transferred from mainland Japan and two of the other islands of Ryukyu archipelago, Amamioshima and Tokunoshima, where species that are alien to Okinawa Island occur;

The World Conservation Congress, at its session in Hawai‘i, United States of America, 1-10 September 2016:

1. REQUESTS Director General and the Species Survival Commission strengthen capacity in detection and monitoring of invasive alien species and potentially invasive alien species in island ecosystems through international collaboration;

2. URGES the Government of Japan to address introduction pathways for alien species, especially those contaminating the landfill materials to be transferred to the construction site of the United States Marine Corp Facility at Henoko, Okinawa, and, in particular, to:

a. develop methods for early detection of alien species in landfill materials prior to their transfer to Henoko in Okinawa, and to make use of the methods recommended by experts and biodiversity stakeholders in Okinawa region;

b. conduct appropriate risk analysis, inviting third party experts on the transfer of landfill materials, and apply risk reduction measures to protect important biodiversity heritage in Okinawa region;

c. invite third party experts and biodiversity stakeholders in Okinawa region to conduct early detection and continuous monitoring for invasive alien species at the construction site and surrounding areas in Okinawa, ensuring a participatory process of decision making on the transfer of landfill materials; and

d. take rapid response action for the eradication of invasive alien species when presence at the construction site is established and to contain such invasive alien species to prevent their spread to the surrounding areas of Okinawa;

3. FURTHER URGES the Government of Japan to address the growing opportunities for the introduction of alien species through tourism and military activities in the Ryukyu islands and to strengthen measures for preventing the entry of alien species at ports of arrival; and

4. INVITES the Government of the United States of America to take appropriate measures to prevent introduction of alien species via landfill materials, ships, aircraft and military activities, and to minimise the impact of alien species establishing themselves on Okinawa Island, in collaboration with the Government of Japan.

Explanatory Memorandum

The impact of invasive species on ecosystems as competitors for food and habitat and as predators of endemic and endangered animals has been shown in different places in Japan and other countries. They also cause serious damage to agriculture and fisheries.

 1. As World Conservation Congress Resolution 5.021 (Jeju, 2012) warned, biological invasions are constantly increasing among all taxonomic groups, and in all environments, from marine to freshwater and terrestrial, causing growing impacts on world biodiversity, affecting a high proportion of threatened species.

2. Also the growing number of tourists in Ryukyu islands inevitably increase the risk of invasive alien species entering to the islands with ships, planes and the activities of tourism industry, which threaten the economic value of tropical islands in tourism is associated with their rich biodiversity in natural landscape and iterated in an information document an information document at the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in PyeongChang, Republic of Korea, in October 2014. (UNEP/CBD/COP/12/INF/8).

3. Introduction of alien species beyond a distinct biogeographic region poses a risk of biological invasion even within national jurisdictions.

4. CONCERNED that as the biodiversity of the Ryukyu archipelago could be threatened by the introduction of invasive alien species, the economic value of the islands in tourism could be threatened as well (UNEP/CBD/COP/12/INF/8);

5. RECOGNISED the United States Marine Corps facility planned to be built in Henoko, Okinawa Island requires 21 million cubic metres of soils and rocks to be used in the reclamation, of which 17 million cubic metres will be transferred from mainland Japan and two of the other islands, Amamioshima and Tokunoshima, of Ryukyu archipelago where species that are alien to Okinawa Island occur. ALARMED that invasive alien species including Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) have been found in some of the above-mentioned sites in mainland Japan;

6. The transportation of such a large quantity of soil and rock across different climate and geographical zones would certainly lead to the introduction and spread of alien species to Okinawa Island and this would have far reaching effects on other islands of Okinawa as well. Specific concern has been raised over the possible impact of Aspergillus species and Serratia marcescens on coral species in Okinawa as well other land-based species;

7. Apply the precautionary principle and measures to control species which have not been officially designated as invasive alien species under the Alien Species Act of Japan, but would be designated as such in future (“potential invasive alien species”);

8. The construction work of the US Marine Corps facility is about to start.

Relevant documents:

 a. We have sent a letter to Dr. Piero Genovesi, Invasive Species Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission on January 27, 2014 for seeking advice.
https://www.nacsj.or.jp/katsudo/henoko/pdf/LetterktokIUCNkSSCkISSGkkJan.27.2014k_1.pdf

b. Alien Species problem of FRF(Futenma Replacement Facility)plan
http://shark.ti-da.net/e8396074.html

c. Ecological Society of Japan describe the richness of the planned construction area in the request to the Government of Japan ‘Joint Petition by the 19 Society Groups calling for Environmental Conservation of the Highly Remarkable Biodiversity in Oura Bay, Okinawa’
http://www.esj.ne.jp/esj/Activity_e/2015_OuraBay.pdf

島嶼生態系への外来種の侵入経路管理の強化（仮訳）

日本自然保護協会
WWFジャパン
日本野鳥の会
ラムサール・ネットワーク日本
野生生物保全論研究会（JWCS）
SDCC（ジュゴン保護キャンペーンセンター）

１．2012年（済州島）に採択された決議WCC-2012-Res-5.021　Implementing the provisions on invasive alien species of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020を想起し、

２．生物多様性条約にて採択された新戦略計画2011-2020愛知ターゲット目標9には「「2020年までに、侵略的外来種とその定着経路が特定され、優先順位付けられ、優先度の高い種が制御され又は根絶される、また、侵略的外来種の導入又は定着を防止するために定着経路を管理するための対策が講じられる。」と記されていることを、再度強調し、

３．生物多様性条約締約国会議決議VI/23附属書の“外来生物種の生態系、生息地あるいは(在来)生物種に及ぼす危機についての予防・導入・影響緩和に関する指針”第7項の国の役割に示されたとおり、独立政治機構域内(通常は国の司法の及ぶ範囲)の侵略的外来生物種の侵入定着は、存在する司法ならびに行政方針に沿って、適切な移入管理の取り組みを執行するよう、深慮考慮を行うべきであることを想起しつつ、生物地理学的領域を越えた外来生物種の移入は、たとえ国内であっても（＝独立司法の及ぶ地域内であっても）生物学的侵略の危険性のある行為であると、承知し、

４．明確な生物地理学的な区域を越えた外来種の導入は、国境内であっても生物学的な侵入のリスクとなることを認識し、

５．日本政府は沖縄島と奄美大島、徳之島を世界自然遺産登録地として国連教育科学文化機関（ユネスコ）に推薦していることを留め、

６．沖縄島の辺野古で計画されている米軍基地建設の埋め立ての遂行には2,100万トンの土砂のが必要である。そのうち1,700万トンは本土と奄美・琉球諸島に属する２つの島である奄美大島と徳之島から運ばれる。沖縄島にとって外来種となりうる（生物種が住む）場所であると認識し、

IUCN世界自然保護会議は，その第6回会議（2016年9月1日～10日，ハワイ、アメリカ）において，

１．IUCN事務局長と種の保存委員会に、以下のことをリクエストする

国際的協力を通じ、島嶼生態系の侵略的外来種と侵略的外来種となる可能性のある種の早期発見とモニタリングのキャパシティを強化すること。

２．日本政府に以下のことを要請する

外来種の侵入経路を作ることに注意をすること、特に沖縄島・辺野古米軍基地の埋め立て工事現場まで、埋め立て資材に混入して運ばれる外来種に対し経路を作ることになる。

中でも特に

a）土砂が沖縄島の辺野古に運ばれる前に、混入する外来種を早期に発見する方法を確立すること、そして沖縄の地域の専門家や生物多様性保全活動に関するステークホルダー（biodiversity stakeholder）が勧める方法を取り入れること

b）第三者的な立場の専門家を招き、埋め立て土砂運搬に関する適切なリスク評価を実施すること。沖縄の重要な生態系を守るためのリスク軽減策を適用すること

c）第三者的な立場の専門家と性物多様性保全活動に関するステークホルダー（biodiversity stakeholder）を招き、建設地とその周辺における侵略的外来種の早期発見と継続したモニタリングを行うこと。これは（埋め立て土砂運搬についての）意思決定の参加のプロセスを確保するためである。

d）建設地に侵略的外来種が見つかった場合には素早く根絶する体制を構築すること。その体制の中に沖縄の周辺の地域に拡散しないようにすることを含むことお。

３．日本政府にさらに以下のことを要請する

日本政府は琉球諸島における観光と軍事活動により、外来種の導入のリスクが高まることを認識し、外来種の導入を入口となる港や空港で防ぐ対策を強化すること。

４．アメリカ合衆国政府に、以下のことについて招待する

埋め立て土砂、船、航空機、軍事活動を通じて入る外来種を防ぐ適切な方法を取り、日本政府と協力し、沖縄島へ入る外来種の影響を最小化すること。