Abstract
Alien species are brought into countries world wide on a massive scale for agricultural production, ex situ conservation, landscape aesthetics, gardens, and ecosystem restoration. Unfortunately, some of these species have escaped and adversely impacted on regional as well as global biodiversity conservation and agricultural production. To reduce such risks, it is necessary to implement specific and effective measures. Since various government departments and institutions are involved in the management of alien species, it is difficult to prevent native and agroecosystems from being invaded by invited species. We propose the establishment of a supervision and inspection continuum over intentional species introduction, similar to that which exists in some countries over unintentional species introductions. Namely, a justification of the necessity to import, a risk assessment, assurances as to provision of an adequate containment facility assessment, and a damage-limitation protocol should that need to be invoked. These requirements should be satisfied before an alien species is knowingly imported, and the necessary follow-up supervision is important post- importation.
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Acknowledgments
Views expressed in this manuscript reflect our personal perspectives. We thank our friends working in the Institute of Plant Quarantine, Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, for helpful discussions. This work was funded by the National Science & Technology Pillar Program of China (2012BAK11B01, 2012BAK11B03), and the Special Fund Project for Fundamental Research of Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine (2014JK010), and Science and Technology Plan Projects of Jiangsu Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (2014KJ51), and Science and Technology Plan Projects of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ) (2013IK290).
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Communicated by David Hawksworth.
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Xu, H., Pan, X., Song, Y. et al. Intentionally introduced species: more easily invited than removed. Biodivers Conserv 23, 2637–2643 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0728-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0728-0