Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
16.3
European Regional Context
16.3.1 EPPO
To promote regional cooperation, the IPPC includes provisions for the establish-
ment of Regional Plant Protection Organizations (RPPOs) functioning as coordi-
nating bodies in the areas they cover. EPPO is the RPPO for Europe and the
Mediterranean area, and establishes regional standards on phytosanitary measures.
It was created in 1951, and in 2008 it has 49 member countries, including all mem-
bers of the European Union, Russia and several other countries of the Commonwealth
of Independent States, and Mediterranean countries in North Africa and the Near
East. EPPO's members are represented by their NPPOs, i.e. the official services
that are responsible for plant protection in each country (usually part of the Ministry
of Agriculture). One of EPPO's main priorities is to prevent the introduction of
dangerous pests from other parts of the world, and to limit their spread within the
region should they be introduced. EPPO is also conducting regional PRA activities
for the European and Mediterranean region. More information on EPPO's activities
is available at www.eppo.org.
16.3.2 Bern Convention
The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats
(Bern 1979), generally known as “the Bern Convention” is a nature conservation
treaty, which deals with a wide array of aspects concerning the conservation of nat-
ural heritage in Europe. It counts at present 44 Contracting Parties, including the
27 Member States of the European Union, the European Community and four
African states. It is administered by the Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg. It
implements the CBD within its region and has a threefold objective: to conserve
wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats, to promote co-operation between
states in the field of conservation of biological diversity and, in particular, to protect
endangered and vulnerable species and endangered natural habitats.
The Bern Convention requires Contracting Parties “to strictly control the intro-
duction of non-native species” (Article 11 par. b). The Convention coordinates
action of European Ministries of the Environment in matters related to the conser-
vation of biological diversity. It started activities on invasive alien species in 1984
with the launch of a general recommendation to the member states of the Council
of Europe, followed by the establishment of a group of experts on invasive alien
species. Specific recommendations were then adopted, as for instance on the con-
trol of
Caulerpa taxifolia
(an invasive alga in the Mediterranean). In 2002, the
Convention adopted a European Strategy on invasive alien species, with the aim of
providing guidance to countries in drawing up and implementing their national
strategies (Genovesi and Shine 2002). The Strategy identifies priorities and key
