Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
trade restrictive alternatives, acceptance of equivalent but different SPS meas-
ures, and transparency through advance notifi cation of measures.
Consistent with these principles:
•
Countries may take action when necessary to protect plant/animal health by
preventing introduction or carrying out eradication/containment.
Such action should be based on the appropriate level of protection for that
•
country.
Pest risk analysis is to be used in the development of measures.
•
•
Countries should base national measures on international standards where
available. Where no international standard exists or a higher protection level
is sought, the State concerned must justify a national measure through scien-
tifi cally-based risk assessment.
Emergency (or provisional) measures are permissible without such analysis,
•
when situations require urgent action, or there is insuffi cient information on
which to base action. However, such measures must be reviewed for their sci-
entifi c justifi cation and modifi ed as appropriate.
(For further discussion see Shine
et al
. 2000, 2005; Werksman 2004; Cooney
and Dickson 2005.)
relevant to invasive species
Existing international instruments underpin the use of some of the key approaches
and principles that are of critical importance in dealing with IAS. These include:
Ecosystem approach
IAS management must be approached in a wider ecosystem context (see Zavaleta
et al
. 2001) and the use of the ecosystem approach is one of the CBD
Guiding
Principles for the Prevention, Introduction and Mitigation of Impacts of Alien Species
that threaten Ecosystems, Habitats or Species
.
The ecosystem approach in general has
been defi ned and elaborated in 12 broad principles in a series of CBD Decisions
(Decisions V/6 and V/8). In the context of IAS, the most important ones are: cen-
tralized management to the lowest level; consideration of effects of management
activities on adjacent and other ecosystems; conservation of ecosystem functioning
and structure; recognition of lag effects in ecosystem processes; involvement of all
relevant sectors and scientifi c disciplines. (For further discussion, see Shine
et al
.
2000.)
Precautionary principle/approach
Precaution relates to decision making in situations of scientifi c uncertainty.
Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration holds that 'lack of full scientifi c certainty shall
