J.R. Mauremootoo, S. Pandoo, V. Bachraz, I. Buldawoo and N.C. Cole Mauremootoo, J.R.; S. Pandoo, V. Bachraz, I. Buldawoo and N.C. Cole. Invasive species management in Mauritius: from the reactive to the proactive – the National Invasive Species Management Strategy and its implementation Invasive species management in Mauritius: from the reactive to the proactive – the National Invasive Species Management Strategy and its implementation
J.R. Mauremootoo1, S. Pandoo2, V. Bachraz3, I. Buldawoo4 and N.C. Cole5,6
1InSpiral Pathways, Bristol, UK.
Abstract This account provides the context behind the need to implement an integrated, cross-sectoral approach to Invasive Alien Species (IAS) management in the Republic of Mauritius (RoM). The challenge of increased travel, tourism and transport is enumerated and the history of IAS entry, establishment and spread in the RoM before and since the formulation of the National Invasive Alien Species Strategy and Action Plan for the Republic of Mauritius (NIASSAP) (2010-2019) is reviewed to judge the eff ectiveness of biosecurity measures at the national and sub-national level. New incursions appear to have increased since 2010. Examples include, the papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus; 2013), the Oriental fruit fl y (Bactrocera dorsalis), a species that had previously been eradicated from the island (2013 and 2015) and foot and mouth disease (FMD) (Aphthae epizooticae; 2016). There have been some eff ective responses. A biological control agent was released against the papaya mealybug and fruit production has recovered, FMD has been eradicated and a campaign for eradication of B. dorsalis is underway. However, management approaches remain reactive and sectorally-driven with little cross-fertilisation of ideas and approaches. Biological control, for example, has been very actively pursued in the agricultural sector but has not been offi cially undertaken for environmental weeds since 1982. The documented incursions represent biosecurity failures that the NIASSAP was designed to address but it has yet to be systematically implemented. The growing impact of new biological invaders on all sectors of the Mauritian economy has stimulated a revival of interest in biosecurity at the governmental level and in 2016 the Government submitted a US$17M UNDP/GEF project: Mainstreaming IAS Prevention, Control and Management, which will provide the incremental cost to review, update and eff ectively initiate the implementation of the NIASSAP. Keywords: early detection and rapid response, mainstreaming, management, NISSAP, pathways, prevention, Republic of Mauritius, risk analysis
INTRODUCTION The expanding IAS threat in the Republic of NIASSAP (‘the proactive’), its implementation to date and Mauritius and the adoption of the NIASSAP future prospects. The Republic of Mauritius (RoM) comprises the main A brief history of alien species establishment in island of Mauritius and Rodrigues, about 560 km to the east Mauritius of Mauritius, their associated islets, and the outer islands of Agalega, Tromelin, Cargados Carajos (St Brandon) and Vertebrate establishment the Chagos Archipelago. Mauritius and Rodrigues form Human actions resulted in the introduction of vertebrates part of the Mascarene Islands chain located in the Western to Mauritius even before the fi rst documented landing on Indian Ocean. The Mascarenes belong to one of the 25 the island, by the Dutch in 1598 (Cheke, 1987). Black internationally recognised biodiversity ‘hotspots’ (Myers, rats (Rattus rattus) probably established themselves on et al., 2000). Tropical climate, diverse topography and over Mauritius via shipwrecks and may have been responsible a million of years of isolation have resulted in the evolution for the extinction of many endemic animal species even of a diverse biota with a high degree of endemism. before colonisation. Between the fi rst Dutch landing Invasive alien species (IAS) constitute a major threat to and settlement in 1638 two major animal invaders, the the remaining biodiversity in the RoM (Florens, 2013; Javanese macaque (Macaca fascicularis) and the feral pig Virah-Sawmy, et al., 2009; Cheke & Hume, 2008). IAS (Sus scrofa) became established in Mauritius. During the also have serious economic and health impacts, especially Dutch period (1638–1710), major introductions included if the defi nition of IAS is broadened to include agricultural Javan deer (Cervus javanicus) and cats (Felis catus) which pests and zoonotic diseases. This broad conception of IAS became feral. was used when developing the country’s National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan 2010–2019 (NIASSAP) During French rule (1721–1810), introductions with (RoM, 2010), offi cially adopted by Cabinet in 2010. The signifi cant negative economic and environmental eff ects NIASSAP is based on the premise that the problems of included the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), the Asian house biological invasions are cross-sectoral in nature, so there shrew (Suncus murinus) and the tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus). is a need for a harmonised approach to biosecurity that cuts across traditional sectoral boundaries. Making use The steady rate of vertebrate introductions continued of the ‘biosecurity umbrella’ will help to ensure that all under the British (1810–1968) with introductions including activities relating to species introductions and spread are the Indian wolf snake (Lycodon capucinus), the red- based upon a coordinated and science-based approach that whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), African landsnails is underpinned by the assessment and management of risk. (Achatina spp.) and the small Indian mongoose (Urva This paper describes some of the RoM’s IAS invasion auropunctata). trends, its expanding and diversifying IAS pathways, and Signifi cant vertebrate deliberate and accidental examples of IAS management successes and challenges introductions since independence include the Madagascar (‘the reactive’) as a backdrop to the development of the giant day gecko (Phelsuma grandis), the gold-dust day
In: C.R. Veitch, M.N. Clout, A.R. Martin, J.C. Russell and C.J. West (eds.) (2019). Island invasives: scaling 503 up to meet the challenge, pp. 503–509. Occasional Paper SSC no. 62. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. Island invasives: scaling up to meet the challenge. Ch 3B Strategy: Collaboration gecko (Phelsuma laticauda) and the red-eared slider Mauritius’ humid forest (Florens, et al., 2016), Ravenala (Trachemys scripta elegans). All of these introductions madagascariensis (ravenale) which forms monotypic are believed to be due to the pet trade. It would appear stands in similar climatic zones (Baret, et al., 2013), that the numbers of vertebrates establishing in the wild in Hiptage benghalensis (liane cerf) a woody climber which is Mauritius is showing no signs of a levelling off (Fig. 1). increasing in abundance in less humid forests (C. Griffi ths pers. comm. 2015) and Syzigium jambos (jamrosa) which Also of concern is the spread of vertebrates and all dominates many riverine landscapes in Mauritius and is other taxa between the islands and islets that make up one of the most widespread plant invaders in Rodrigues. the Republic of Mauritius. Rodrigues Island, the outer islands and Mauritian and Rodriguan islets harbour only Entry establishment and spread of additional species a sub-set of the invasive vertebrates found on Mauritius can exacerbate an already bad situation. For example, Island. This has conservation implications. For example: species belonging to the genus Prosopis, a known invasive carnivorous mammals have never established on Round group (Richardson, 1998) have been planted for erosion Island thus saving several endemic reptile species from control on dry mountain slopes and a proposal for the extinction (Bullock, 1986); Flat Island was home to 80% of plantation of up to 3,200 ha of Arundo donax (giant reed) is the world’s population of Bojer’s skink (Gongylomorphus being considered despite its known invasiveness (Csurhes, bojerii) until 2010 when shrews were accidentally 2009). introduced (possibly in building materials) from the Mauritian mainland causing their local extinction (Cole Insect plant pest establishment & Payne, 2015); and Rodrigues does not have Javanese macaques which, if introduced, would further threaten Williams & Ganeshan (2001) documented the their already fragile native biodiversity. These examples acceleration in insect pest establishment in Mauritius illustrate the importance of eff ective inter-island pathway from the 1970s. Data from the Entomology Division of biosecurity. the Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security (MAIFS) indicates that this rate has continued, averaging about Plant establishment one new pest record per year (Fig. 3). Recent insect pest introductions include the papaya mealybug (Paracoccus Since colonisation, more than 1,600 plant species marginatus), detected in 2013, and the yellow sugar have been introduced to Mauritius. Many of these cane aphid (Sipha fl ava), detected in 2015. These newly introductions have been desirable and others have been established pests represent a well-documented burden essential as Mauritius only has one native plant species, on the country's agricultural sector which has become the hurricane palm (Dictyosperma album) that has so far extremely reliant on the use of synthetic pesticides with all been exploited on a commercial scale. Heeroo (2000) their concomitant drawbacks (Abeeluck, et al., 2009). The assembled all introduced plants records from the Mauritius impacts of newly-established pests on native biodiversity Herbarium between 1888 and 2000 and found that 804 have not been studied. of the 1,619 species were classifi ed as 'weedy species', 141 being 'agricultural weeds' and 674 being 'naturalised weeds' (Fig. 2). It should be noted that there can be a turnover of weedy species so, assuming that the records are comprehensive, the cumulative number listed is likely to be higher than the actual numbers of weedy species in the fi eld. Herbarium records can only approximate the rate at which species establish themselves as they are heavily dependent on collection eff ort but it would appear that new naturalisations levelled off between the 1980s and 2000. Data from 2000 onwards need to be consolidated to clarify recent trends. Of the naturalised species, about 30 currently dominate the country’s natural vegetation in terms of numbers of individuals and biomass. Some of the principal invasive woody and shrubby plants in Mauritius and Rodrigues include Psidium cattleianum (Chinese guava) which Fig. 2 Cumulative records of weedy species from Mauritius constitutes the vast majority of the biomass in much of herbarium records 1888–1999. Source: Heeroo 2000.
Fig. 1 Cumulative records of vertebrate establishment Fig. 3 New insect pest records in Mauritius 1901–2016. in Mauritius (pre-1600–2016). Source: Cheke & Hume Source: Entomology Division, MAIFS. 2008; Nik Cole (pers. obs.).
504 Mauremootoo, et al.: Mauritius National Invasive Species Management Strategy
An example of a repeated insect pest incursion is that of unknown numbers of pleasure crafts that land informally the oriental fruit fl y (Bactrocera dorsalis): Native to Asia, on the Mauritian mainland, Rodrigues and their associated B. dorsalis is one of the world's most destructive pests of islets and are therefore unregulated. fruit with over 300 host species. Bactrocera dorsalis is now found in at least 65 countries and continues to spread The volume and diversity of traffi c along air and via infested fruit, either as cargo or carried illegally by sea pathways into and within the RoM has increased airline passengers (CABI, 2017). It was fi rst detected in substantially over the past decades. Passenger arrivals Mauritius in 1996 and, following an eradication campaign into Mauritius Island have increased nearly tenfold from involving bait spraying, male annihilation, fruit collection 177,665 in 1983 to 1,684,835 in 2016 (Fig. 4a). Of these and destruction, Mauritius was declared free of B. dorsalis arrivals, 409,608 were returning Mauritian residents. in 1998 (Seewooruthun, et al., 2000). A further incursion Arrivals into Rodrigues over the same period have was detected in 2013 and eradicated using similar methods increased more than fourteenfold from 6,556 to 94,270 in 2014. The pest was discovered once again in 2015 but at (Fig. 4b). Most fl ights to Rodrigues come from Mauritius many more locations that previously, so eradication using Island with an additional scheduled service from Réunion. established methods was not possible. The population In June 2017, Air Mauritius, the country’s national carrier, is currently being contained and suppressed while an was running scheduled services to 24 destinations in 15 irradiation facility for the breeding of sterile males is being countries. constructed. The fi rst release is scheduled for February Despite the large increase in absolute numbers, the 2018 to treat an area of 400 km2 with the release of 15 proportion of travellers from diff erent regions of the million males per week for at least eight months. In the world has been relatively consistent (Fig. 5). However, medium term, this programme will be expanded into it is highly likely that the diversity of passenger origins eradication campaigns for the eight other fruit fl y species has increased substantially although this is not possible to present in Mauritius (P. Sookar pers. comm. 2017). These conclude defi nitively as comprehensive data on passenger’s planned eradications are being accompanied by increased original port of embarkation is only available from 2013. pest screening of all imported fruit and vegetables. According to Statistics Mauritius (2017), passengers began their journey in at least 110 countries or territories in 2016. Disease establishment Air travel to and through Mauritius is likely to further increase through the continued growth of the tourism A number of zoonotic diseases have been introduced industry and the eff orts Mauritius is making to position into Mauritius in recent years. The country experienced a itself as an air travel hub for the fast-growing Africa-Asia major outbreak of chikungunya, a debilitating mosquito- market. More and more people coming from more and borne virus, in 2006 (Ramchurn, et al., 2008), it’s fi rst ever more biogeographic zones has biosecurity implications for outbreaks of African swine fever in 2007 (Lubisi, et al., a variety of frontline agencies – currently the airport entry 2009) and in 2016 the fi rst foot and mouth disease outbreak point is staff ed by representatives of the the Mauritius in 100 years (Hamuth-Lauloo, et al., 2016). All three Revenue Authority (Customs Department), the Ministry of diseases are no longer present in the RoM but the outbreaks Agro Industry and Food Security (Plant Protection Offi ce) had major social, political, economic and environmental and Ministry of Health and Quality of Life. impacts. Imports into Mauritius by weight have increased nearly IAS pathways are expanding and diversifying seven-fold from 905,398 tonnes in 1974 to 6,007,056 tonnes in 2016 (Fig. 6). At the same time the number of The major IAS pathways for Mauritius are international countries exporting to Mauritius has increased from 33 shipping and air travel but there is also a risk posed by the to 61. However, in contrast to the continued growth in tonnage, the increase in numbers of exporting countries levelled off from 2000 (Fig. 7). The relative importance of exporting countries by monetary value of their exports to Mauritius has changed with two trends being particularly evident: the growth in exports from Asia (from 37–53%) and decline in exports from Europe (from 40–25%) (Fig. 8). These changes have implications for biosecurity including the increased risk that comes with greater volumes of movement, increases in the numbers of source locations and an increase in sources from the warmer parts of the world. However, the precise nature of the risks involved
Fig. 4 Passenger arrivals in (A) Mauritius Island and (B) Rodrigues Island 1983–2016 (prior to 1994 fi gures Fig. 5 Foreign passenger arrivals per region of residence. exclude cruise travellers). Source: Statistics Mauritius Source: Statistics Mauritius (2017). (2017).
505 Island invasives: scaling up to meet the challenge. Ch 3B Strategy: Collaboration cannot be ascertained from aggregate fi gures. For example, IAS MANAGEMENT SUCCESSES AND goods such as high value electronics and processed grains, CHALLENGES which can be relatively ‘clean’, pose lower risks than ‘dirtier’ imports such as semi-processed and unprocessed Prevention: keeping white grubs out of Mauritius food and timber, and used machinery which can harbour a The white grub (Hoplochelus marginalis), a beetle wide range of invasive species. indigenous to Madagascar, was accidently introduced to Nearly all offi cial shipping to Rodrigues comes from Réunion, 150 km to the west of Mauritius, in 1973 in potted Mauritius Island, which simplifi es pathway analysis. ornamental plants and became a threat to Réunion’s sugar However, pleasure boats and artisanal fi shing boats also industry in the 1980s (Jeuff rault, et al., 2004). Sugar cane operate between Mauritius and Rodrigues islands and their is Mauritius’ principal crop and the generalist white grub off shore islets. Precise numbers of local and international also aff ects other crops and wild grasses. Collaboration visitors to islets have not been recorded but are known between Mauritius and Réunion has prevented the white to be in the hundreds of thousands per year. Biosecurity grub from reaching Mauritius and includes the following practices are adopted for organised tours of islet nature measures: reduction in the population densities of white reserves such as Ile aux Aigrettes and for conservation grubs in Réunion by the use of the fungal pathogen missions to Round Island and Gunner’s Quoin but similar Beauveria brongnartii; sustained public awareness protocols have yet to be formally adopted by private tour campaigns; changes in fl ight and boat departure times in operators, pleasure craft owners or fi shers. summer when the beetle actively fl ies around dusk and is attracted to light; regular inspections and spraying around the Mauritius port and airport areas. This systematic approach refl ects sugar cane’s economic importance and the priority given to agriculture.
Early detection and rapid response: stopping redbacks in their tracks The redback spider (Latrodectus hasseltii) is a venomous Australian spider, responsible for far more bites requiring antivenom than any other creature in Australia. It was found on Gunner's Quoin, an islet of key conservation importance, 8 km from the north coast of Mauritius in 2008 by scientists carrying out conservation activities (N. Cole, pers. obs.). The individual spider and three egg cocoons were found, the spider was collected to confi rm Fig. 6 Volume of imports in tonnes 1974–2016. Source: identifi cation and the cocoons destroyed, although two had Statistics Mauritius (2017). previously hatched. Systematic searches were conducted and subsequently three more spiders and additional egg cocoons were detected and destroyed. Since 2010, there have not been any new detections despite intensive surveys every four to six months. It is not known how the redback was introduced but it is suspected that it could have been a stowaway on private yachts from Australia that are known to travel in the region. Since 2010, 15 invasion events by 10 invertebrate and vertebrate species have been detected on six islets surrounding Mauritius. The periodic presence of biologists on these islets has in most cases permitted rapid response resulting in seven of these invasion events being prevented from establishing or subsequently eradicated with another two eradication eff orts ongoing. Increased use of the islets for tourism and leisure activities have been identifi ed as the most signifi cant IAS pathway. Eff ective biosecurity systems do not exist for most islets with the exception being Round Island which is managed Fig. 7 Number of countries that export to Mauritius 1974– for strict conservation purpose, is diffi cult to access, and is 2016. Source: Statistics Mauritius (2017). permanently staff ed by conservationists.
Eradication: elimination of foot and mouth disease from Mauritius and Rodrigues The following is a summary of the detailed account given by Hamuth-Lauloo, et al. (2016). From 7–27 July 2016, 62 cases of cattle illness had been reported in Rodrigues. On 31 July, a team from Mauritius observed Foot and Mouth (FMD) symptoms in cattle and pigs. This was confi rmed by blood tests on 1 August. In the meantime, two consignments of livestock had been exported to Mauritius Island. The presence of FMD was confi rmed in Mauritius on 5 August. The most probable source of FMD was frozen buff alo meat imported from India via Mauritius. The response comprised of stamping out, movement control, disinfection, quarantine, surveillance, destruction of Fig. 8 Value of imports by region 1974–2016. Source: animal products, offi cial disposal of carcasses, by-products Statistics Mauritius (2017). and waste, zoning and vaccination and no FMD cases have
506 Mauremootoo, et al.: Mauritius National Invasive Species Management Strategy been detected from both Rodrigues and Mauritius since eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, December 2016. Inspection of export facilities in India habitats or species” (UN, 1992). Towards this end, could have prevented the outbreak, more rapid diagnosis MAIFS established the National Invasive Alien Species and better inter-island quarantine could have reduced its Committee (NIASC) in August 2003. One of the priorities severity and spread and a contingency plan would have for the NIASC, which comprises representatives from the resulted in a more coordinated response than was the case. agriculture, biodiversity conservation, health, environment and education sectors as well as the private sector, was the Management: the use of biological control within an production of a National Invasive Alien Species Strategy IPM approach in the agricultural sector and Action Plan (NIASSAP) for the Republic of Mauritius (RoM, 2010). Funding was secured for its development As outlined, there has been an increased rate of insect from 2008 and the NIASSAP was approved by cabinet pest introduction to Mauritius since the 1970s. This has in 2010. The NIASSAP presents a vision in which the been one of the reasons for the growing use of pesticides negative impacts of IAS on the economy, environment and in Mauritian agriculture. However, at the same time, the society of the RoM are avoided, eliminated or minimised. country, notably through the sugar sector, which barely The strategy was based on the assumptions that an eff ective uses insecticides, has made grounds in integrated pest biosecurity system is built upon a risk analysis framework management (IPM), advocating a package of measures and that its success depends upon eff ective collaboration designed to reduce the prophylactic use of pesticides. One between all those concerned with invasion pathways. of the main planks of this approach has been the use of biological control. This has been refl ected in the consistent The Strategy comprises ten interlinked elements: fi ve use of biological control agents (parasitoids, pathogens, hierarchical “Management Elements” and fi ve “Cross- and biopesticides) in recent decades. A major recent Cutting Elements”. The management elements are those success was the introduction of the parasitoid Acerophagus “on the ground actions” that directly address the Strategy’s papayae in 2013 to control the papaya mealybug. vision. The cross-cutting elements are enabling actions. The NIASSAP Management Elements, with their The sectoral nature of IAS management – the case of accompanying goal or goals are listed in order of priority biological control based on the maxim that “prevention is better than cure”: Approaches developed in one sector are not necessarily 1. Prevention – to minimise the number of unintended adopted and adapted to other sectors. An example of this is and intended IAS introductions to the RoM; biological control which is actively pursued in agriculture but not in the conservation sector. The priority given to 2. Early detection and rapid response – to minimise biological control in agriculture, using protocols based the number of IAS that go on to have harmful on International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures consequences once they are introduced to the RoM; (ISPMs), refl ects the sector’s economic importance and the 3. Eradication – an agreed framework for eradication clear direction off ered to the plant protection sector through priorities in place, eradications undertaken as the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), to necessary and results disseminated; which the country has been a signatory since 1971. There 4. Control and management – to contain the distribution has been no deliberate introduction of a biocontrol agent and abundance of IAS in the RoM to a long-term against an invasive plant that threatens native biodiversity acceptable level; and since 1982, despite the fact that biocontrol of environmental 5. Restoration – to undertake ecosystem restoration weeds in Mauritius has a very successful history with a full/ where necessary in the RoM to achieve long-term partial success rate of 80% (Fowler, et al., 2000). Ironically, ecosystem goals. two recent examples of possible biosecurity failures are likely to have had positive impacts on biodiversity in The Cross-Cutting Elements, again listed with their the RoM. Firstly, there is the movement of Teleonemia goal or goals, are: scrupulosa (lantana lace-bug), a biological control agent for Lantana camara (vieille fi lle) already present in 6. Legal, policy and institutional frameworks – to have Mauritius, to Rodrigues which has hugely reduced the a coordinated policy and management framework vigour of L. camara in areas of conservation importance that minimise the risk of IAS; and on rangeland in Rodrigues. Secondly, the spread of 7. Capacity building and education – to make available the biocontrol agent Cibdela janthina (mouche bleu) from appropriately skilled personnel to implement all Réunion to Mauritius, which may have arrived in 2015 aspects of IAS management in the country; (Florens, et al., 2017), has the potential to substantially 8. Information management and research – (i) To have reduce the vigour of Rubus alceifolius (giant bramble) a a clear understanding of the impacts of IAS that major invasive plant in Mauritian forests. C. janthina could have become established in the RoM; (ii) to have have conceivably dispersed naturally from Réunion but the ready access to critical information that will support chances of the L. camara agent dispersing naturally from IAS management programmes and (iii) to provide Mauritius to Rodrigues are very low. Whatever the case, a strong scientifi c basis for decision-making and biosecurity systems need to be tightened but responsible resource allocation; biological control for invasive plants must to be part of an integrated approach to invasive plant management. 9. Public awareness and engagement – all stakeholders in the RoM should have a high level of awareness of IAS risks and the benefi ts of IAS prevention and THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL INVASIVE management; ALIEN SPECIES STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN 10. International cooperation – (i) the RoM should Following its accession to the Convention on Biological have access to the necessary information, technical Diversity in 1992, the Mauritian conservation community and fi nancial support and other resources it needs was very actively engaged in the Global Invasive Species to eff ectively meet its international obligations; Programme (GISP) which operated between 1997 and 2011 (ii) Mauritian IAS experiences and lessons learnt to encourage the adoption of measures in line with CBD are eff ectively disseminated to help IAS initiatives Article 8h: “Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible regionally and internationally and (iii) the RoM is and as appropriate prevent the introduction of, control or not a source of IAS for other countries
507 Island invasives: scaling up to meet the challenge. Ch 3B Strategy: Collaboration
Partial implementation of the NIASSAP (2010–2017) importation to the RoM or moved between its islands may become invasive (border control), and (2) assess The NIASSAP has yet to be systematically the risks associated with species already present implemented. Major reasons for this were the fact that lead in the RoM but which may not yet have become agencies were not designated to carry out each action and invasive there; timelines, milestones and estimates of resources required were not agreed upon. The National IAS Committee ● Species identifi ed by formal risk assessment as only met sporadically between 2010 and 2015 and was having high invasiveness potential in the Republic of only made statutory in 2015 under the Native Terrestrial Mauritius are refused permission for importation or Biodiversity and National Parks Act (2015). for translocation between its islands; ● Procedures for controlling the unregulated (illegal) However, actions in line with the NIASSAP have importation of species to the Republic of Mauritius been undertaken in Mauritius since 2010, some of which or between its islands are improved (eff ective have been outlined above, but they were not implemented quarantine system with sanctions for deliberate because of the NIASSAP. infractions); The prospects for eff ective implementation of the ● Species present in the Republic of Mauritius, with NIASSAP received a boost with a broadly costed and high invasive potential but still present only in timetabled provision for its implementation under the limited areas, are prioritised for management and, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) where feasible, eradication by means of a formal risk 2017–2025 as the National contribution to Aichi Target 9: assessment process, including, as far as possible, “By 2025, the NIASSAP is revised and fully implemented their declaration as “harmful”, “prohibited”, or through adequate fi nancial and human resources similar; commensurate to the existing challenges, and the impacts ● Pilot biodiversity conservation and ecological caused by IAS are minimised” (RoM, 2017). Linked to restoration operations developed on key islets and in the above, from 2015–2018, has been the development of Rodrigues; a UNDP/GEF VI Project to mainstream IAS prevention, control and management (US$20.89M project: US$3.89M ● Equipment and infrastructure updated to help ensure from Global Environment Facility and US$17M from that priority biosecurity measures are eff ectively National co-fi nancing). implemented. 3. By 2024, planning, management and decision-making Next steps: mainstreaming IAS prevention, control by all relevant stakeholders are informed by knowledge and management management and learning: The objective of the ‘IAS Mainstreaming Project’ ● Review and survey of the status of IAS pathways, is to safeguard globally signifi cant biodiversity in IAS distributions, the cross-sectoral economic, vulnerable ecosystems through the prevention, control and environmental and cultural impact of IAS and the management of IAS in the RoM. This will be achieved successes and lessons learnt from past and ongoing through four outcomes which are summarised below IAS prevention, early detection and rapid response, together with key outputs and activities that contribute to eradication, control and mitigation and restoration; intended outcomes: ● Up-to-date lists of terrestrial and marine invasive 1. By 2024, the RoM has a gender sensitive policy, species of all taxa present in the Republic of regulatory and institutional framework and capacity to Mauritius are completed and publicly available, and manage IAS eff ectively: a system for their regular updating is in place and is being used; ● The NIASSAP is reviewed and revised, with ● Pathways of introduction of new species into progress assessed, gaps identifi ed and activities fully Mauritius and between the islands of the Republic of costed with precise timelines for implementation for Mauritius are identifi ed, their relative importance is both terrestrial and marine IAS; quantifi ed, and they are prioritised for management ● Existing legislation is strengthened for more eff ective action to reduce the rate of arrival of new species; control and management of IAS; ● A national IAS information system is developed and ● A cross-sectoral policy coordination framework operationalised to monitor and inform risk-based is established for the incorporation of IAS issues management of species, pathways and ecosystems into the legal and policy framework of all relevant based on agreed protocols; agencies; ● A national IAS gateway is developed to provide ● A technical secretariat for IAS is established; rapid access and dissemination of information to ● Capacity is strengthened in key agencies and enhance deployment of coordinated actions between organisations; institutional partners on IAS management; ● Financial sustainability of the apex agency and IAS ● A national IAS communications and awareness operations are secured through the development strategy and action plan is developed and and application of new market-based and fi scal implemented; mechanisms and incentives to support IAS ● IAS tools and manuals are developed to complement management. training courses and for use in day to day IAS 2. By 2024, the government eff ectively prevents and management operations, and guidelines are manages IAS threats based on risks: developed to embed IAS issues into key sectors whose activities have IAS implications. ● National and inter-island biosecurity priorities and Project risks include increased liberalisation of resource needs, including baselines are established; movement and trade, the continuation of a fragmented ● A comprehensive risk assessment system is in place sector by sector and case by case approach, lack of and being used in the Republic of Mauritius, to support for strengthened biosecurity measures at diff erent (1) assess the risks that new species proposed for levels, and economic and political pressure being used to
508 Mauremootoo, et al.: Mauritius National Invasive Species Management Strategy circumvent decision-making based on a transparent risk Jeuff rault, E., Rolet, A., Reynaud, B., Manikom, R., Georger, S., Taye, T., analysis process. It is clear, therefore, that the NIASSAP Chiroleu, F., Fouillaud, M. and Vercambre, B. (2004). ‘Vingt ans de lutte contre le ver blanc de la canne à sucre à la Réunion: Un succès, mais represents an ambitious and costly undertaking, but the il reste des questionnements scientifi ques pour confi rmer la durabilité costs of not systematising IAS prevention and management de la lutte biologique’. Phytoma–La Défense des Végétaux 573: 16–19. (business as usual) are likely to be considerably higher. Lubisi, B.A., Dwarka, R.M., Meenowa, D. and Jaumally, R. (2009). ‘An Investigation into the fi rst outbreak of African swine fever in the Republic of Mauritius’. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 56: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 178–188. Thanks to staff of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Myers N., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C.G. et al. (2000). ‘Biodiversity Food Security (National Parks and Conservation Service, hotspots for conservation priorities’. Nature 403: 853–858. Forestry Service, Plant Quarantine Service and Entomology Ramchurn, S.K., Goorah, S.S.D., Mungla, D., Ramsurrun, B., Pydiah, V. Division) and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation for and Summun, A. (2008). ‘A study of the 2006 Chikungunya epidemic helping to provide information for this paper and for their outbreak in Mauritius’ Internet Journal of Medical Update 3(1): 11–21. contributions towards putting invasive species on the Richardson, D.M. (1998). ‘Forestry trees as invasive aliens’. Conservation national radar. Thanks to the reviewers for their valuable Biology 12(1): 18–26. comments on an earlier draft of this paper. A special thanks RoM. (2010). ‘The National Invasive Alien Species Strategy and Action to all the dedicated staff from the concerned agencies who Plan for the Republic of Mauritius’. Port Louis: Ministry of Agro undertake the daily activities to minimise invasive species Industry and Food Security. impacts in the Republic of Mauritius. RoM. (2017). ‘National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2017 – 2025’. Port Louis: Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security. REFERENCES Seewooruthun, S.I., Permalloo, S., Gungah, S., Soonnoo, A.R. and Alleck, Abeeluck, D., Dunhawoor, C. and Unmole, L. (2009). ‘Development M. (2000). ‘Eradication of an Exotic Fruit Fly from Mauritius’. In: K-H. and implementation of integrated pest management in Mauritius: An Tan (ed.) Area-Wide Control of Fruit Flies and Other Insect Pests: Joint overview’. University of Mauritius Research Journal 15: 85–97. Proceedings of the International Conference in Area-Wide Control of Insects Pests, May 28−June 5, 1998, and the Fifth International Baret, S., Baider, C., Kueff er, C., Foxcroft, L.C. and Lagabrielle, E. Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance, June 1–5, 1998, pp. (2013). ‘Threats to Paradise? Plant Invasions in Protected Areas of 389–394. Pulau Pinang, Malaysia: Penebrit Universiti Sains. the Western Indian Ocean Islands’. In: L.C. Foxcroft, P. Pyšek, D.M. Richardson and P. Genovesi (eds.) Plant Invasions in Protected Statistics Mauritius (2017). ‘2015–2016 Statistics Mauritius Annual Areas: Patterns, Problems and Challenges, pp. 423–447. Dordrecht, Report’. Port Louis, Mauritius: Ministry of Finance & Economic Netherlands: Springer. Development. Bullock, D.J. (1986). ‘The ecology and conservation of reptiles on Round UN. (1992). ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’. Nairobi.
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