Proceedings of the International Conference on Invasive Alien Species Management NNationalational TTrustrust fforor NatureNature ConservationConservation BBiodiversityiodiversity CConservationonservation CentreCentre SSauraha,auraha, CChitwan,hitwan, NNepalepal MMarcharch 2525 – 227,7, 22014014 Supported by: Dr. Ganesh Raj Joshi, the Secretary of Ministry of Forests and Soil Conserva on, inaugura ng the conference Dignitaries of the inaugural session on the dais Proceedings of the International Conference on Invasive Alien Species Management National Trust for Nature Conservation Biodiversity Conservation Centre Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal March 25 – 27, 2014 Supported by: © NTNC 2014 All rights reserved Any reproduc on in full or in part must men on the tle and credit NTNC and the author Published by : NaƟ onal Trust for Nature ConservaƟ on (NTNC) Address : Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal PO Box 3712, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel : +977-1-5526571, 5526573 Fax : +977-1-5526570 E-mail : [email protected] URL : www.ntnc.org.np Edited by: Mr. Ganga Jang Thapa Dr. Naresh Subedi Dr. Manish Raj Pandey Mr. Nawa Raj Chapagain Mr. Shyam Kumar Thapa Mr. Arun Rana PublicaƟ on services: Mr. Numraj Khanal Photo credits: Dr. Naresh Subedi Mr. Shyam Kumar Thapa Mr. Numraj Khanal CitaƟ on: Thapa, G. J., Subedi, N., Pandey, M. R., Thapa, S. K., Chapagain, N. R. and Rana A. (eds.) (2014), Proceedings of the InternaƟ onal Conference on Invasive Alien Species Management. Na onal Trust for Nature Conserva on, Nepal. This publica on is also available at www.ntnc.org.np/iciasm/publica ons ISBN: 978-9937-8522-1-0 Disclaimer: This proceeding is made possible by the generous support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the American people through the United States Agency for InternaƟ onal Development (USAID) and the NaƟ onal Trust for Nature ConservaƟ on (NTNC). The contents of the papers and abstracts in this publicaƟ on rest solely with the respecƟ ve atuthor(s) and do not necessarily refl ect the views of ADB, USAID and NTNC. Printed at: Maitry Off set Press Masangally, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel.: 4230840 Foreword Alien species that become invasive are considered to be main direct drivers of biodiversity loss across the globe. Management of invasive alien species (IAS) is seen as major challenge in the field of biodiversity conservation. IAS, the non-native species threaten ecosystems, destroy habitats and create problems to other native species through invasion. It is considered as the second greatest agent of species endangerment and extinction. The ecological cost is often the irretrievable loss of native species and ecosystems. It also causes heavy economic loss, in terms of reduced crop and livestock production, reduced native biodiversity, increased production costs and so forth. Nepal is also suffering from the introduction of IAS. Chitwan National Park, the first national park in the country listed in the world heritage site has been invaded with Micania macarantha in the last decade threatening the habitat of some of the global significant species inhabiting the park. It is degrading the habitat of rhinoceros and prey species of tiger, thus reducing the resource base of these keystone species. Similar problems of invasion of non-native alien species are witnessed in eastern Terai, mid-hills and even in the high Himalayas. The protected areas (PA) in Nepal are under huge pressure from poaching and illegal activities and the invasion have further compounded pressure to the PA management. Research, monitoring, and management of biological invasions have not yet been a priority in Nepal. Very limited works have been initiated but these activities are not well coordinated. In this context, NTNC initiated to organize the International Conference on Invasive Alien Species Management (ICIASM) with an aim to provide valuable input while revising National Biodiversity Strategy (NBS). We are thankful to Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the USAID funded Hariyo Ban Program for providing financial support for the conference. The conference, through the Chitwan Declaration attracted attention of global community for the effective management of IAS in a coordinated manner. The conference has also noticed the negative impacts of IAS not only in agriculture, livestock productivity, forests, wetlands, and water scarcity but also in fisheries, wildlife conservation, and human health. The conference has urged for the urgent need of comprehensive national strategies for prevention. It has been a special platform to discuss over the IAS issues in the globe and needs to be continued in the days to come. At the end, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of the agencies and individuals involved to make the conference successful. Thanks to NTNC’s BCC, technical committee, and management committee for the effective management of the conference. Special thanks to all of the delegates from Australia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, United Kingdom, and United States of America for their valuable presence and sharing. Thank you, Govinda Gajurel Member Secretary National Trust for Nature Conservation Preface Invasive Alien Species (IAS) pose a profound impact on humans as well as on the ecosystems as it can be a cause of heavy economic loss, in terms of reduced crop and livestock production, reduced native biodiversity, costs involved to control their rapid spread and impacts on human health. Thus, these non-native species destroy ecosystems, habitat, or species and are also the second greatest agent of species endangerment and extinction after habitat destruction. Flora and fauna have entered an age of globalization just like economic globalization. Species are being moved around the planet at a rate much greater than we ever expected. The issue of IAS is caused by human activities associated with global linkages, network and ease of access by road, rail or air. In order to control their spread, measures have to be taken at national and local level. Realizing the threat of biological invasion, more attention has been given on research, monitoring, control and management of invasive species in the recent years by global communities. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) calls for its signatory nations to prevent the introduction, control or eradication of those alien species. The different bioclimatic zones of Nepal favor the introduction of several alien species. Research, monitoring and management of biological invasions have not yet been a priority in Nepal. Very limited works have been initiated and, moreover, these activities are not well coordinated. On the other hand, there is no national strategy document for the scientific management and control of invasive species. In this context, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) organized the International Conference on Invasive Alien Species Management (ICIASM) at NTNC’s Biodiversity Conservation Center (BCC), Sauraha, Chitwan National Park from March 25–27, 2014 with an aim to provide valuable inputs while revising National Biodiversity Strategy (NBS) and implementing other biodiversity conservation and management initiatives.Major financial support for the conference was provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the USAID funded Hariyo Ban Program. The conference provided a good platform and opportunity to present and share research findings, outcomes, recommendations and innovative ideas regarding IAS management all over the globe.The international character of this conference is illustrated by the participation of representatives from Australia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America. 27 research papers were presented by the participants in the conference. In addition, the conference, through Chitwan Declaration, agreed to draw attention of global community to initiate joint management to control spread of IAS. The conference also drew attention to the negative impacts of IAS not only in agriculture, livestock productivity, forests, wetlands, and water scarcity but also for fisheries, wildlife conservation and human health and urged for the urgent need of a comprehensive national strategy for prevention. This proceeding contains the collection of key note paper and technical papers presented at the conference and it is intended to demonstrate how different dimensions of IAS problems impinge on each other and to provide recommendations to counteract and deal with the current and future IAS management problems and challenges. Opinions and statistics included in the technical papers do not necessarily reflect the opinion and views of organizer and supporting agencies. Last, but not the least, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the conference participants, agencies and individuals, institutions who provided financial support, members of technical and management committees and entire NTNC team for their support and cooperation to make this conference successful. Thank you. Ganga Jang Thapa Conference Coordinator Executive Director - National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) Table of Contents KEY NOTE PAPER Galvanizing Action for the Management of Invasive Alien Species 1 FULL TECHNICAL PAPERS Invasive Plant Threats to Forests in the Humid Tropics: A Case Study from Kerala State, India 7 Invasive Alien Species: Threats and Challenges for Biodiversity Conservation- A Case Study of Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal 18 The Biology and Management of Parthenium Weed: An Invasive Weed now Affecting the Native and Agro-ecosystems of Nepal 23 Genetic