Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
NIS problem. This committee put forth 12 recommendations that strengthen the
scientific basis of predicting the invasive potential of plants. The Global Invasive
Species Programme (GISP), an international consortium of scientific, government,
and foundation groups, has also recommended NIS prediction and screening schemes
(Wittenberg and Cock 2001). Following an evaluation of US national policies and
practices on biological invasions, and in light of current scientific and technical
advances, the Ecological Society of America put forth six recommendations that
require government action to “help prevent invasions, respond rapidly to new inva-
sions and control and limit damage from existing invasions” (Lodge et al. 2006).
In an attempt to reduce the risks of the introduction of noxious weeds and host
pests associated with the importation of plants for planting, APHIS is undertaking a
revision of the regulations (Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR Part 319.37) govern-
ing the import of plants for planting, commonly referred to as Q-37 (USDA, APSHIS
Import and Export - Plant Import Information -Importation of Plants for Planting -
Revision of the Nursery Stock Quarantine, http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/
plants/plant_imports/Q37_revision.shtml. Accessed 9 June 2008). Revision of Q-37
was necessary because trade in plants has now expanded to greater global coverage
of imports, with increasing numbers and magnitude of plant taxa imported, making
monitoring of plant material less likely. Following the basic tenet behind propagule
pressure, the increasing magnitude of imported plant material increases the likelihood
of new successful invasive species to the USA (Reaser et al. 2008).
9.3
The Role of the Ornamental Horticulture Industry
in Invasive NIS
The USA is the world's foremost producer of and market for nursery and floricul-
ture crops (ANLA). These industries provide entrepreneurial opportunities, supply
jobs for tens of thousands of employees, and generate large tax revenues for the
government. Because of their substantial economic effect, these industries are a
politically potent force. The horticulture industries sell hundreds of NIS. Most of
these taxa have graced our landscapes with untold aesthetic and environmental
value. However, there is no ambiguity that these industries are responsible for
introducing a relatively high percentage of the invasive NIS that have negative
economic and environmental impacts ranging from minor to major. Reichard
(1997) calculated that 85% of the 235 known invasive woody NIS in the USA were
introduced by the nursery industry as landscape material. Randall and Marinelli
(1996), using invasive NIS lists from the Nature Conservancy and the National
Association of EPPCs, determined that half of the 300 invasive NIS in the USA
(excluding Hawaii) were imported for horticultural purposes. Bell et al. (2003),
using data of six nongovernmental organizations that listed invasive NIS, deter-
mined that 34-83% of the total number of invasive taxa in the USA had a horti-
cultural origin. In Florida, at least 47% of plants that are negatively affecting the
environment were introduced for ornamental purposes; an additional 27% are
