(Washington, DC) — The Environmental Law Institute® (ELI) announces the publication of Effects of Climate Change on Aquatic Invasive Species and Implications for Management and Research, a report prepared by ELI and the U.S. EPA. The report examines the effects of climate change on aquatic invasive species (AIS). Aquatic invasive species, such as the zebra mussel, silver and bighead carp, and water hyacinth, are non-native species that damage the environment, public health, and the economy as they spread and multiply. The report identifies gaps in scientific information needed to respond to the threats posed by these species in a changing climate and proposes strategies for incorporating climate change considerations into management plans and activities to effectively prevent, control, and eradicate AIS under changing conditions.
The report reviews current scientific literature on interactions between climate change and AIS and highlights additional research and information needs. “It is important to identify, prioritize, and address gaps in our knowledge of AIS and climate change to provide the information that states need to develop effective, long-term management plans for aquatic invasive species,” says Dr. Kathryn Mengerink of ELI, a co-author of the study.
The report reveals that only a few state management plans — notably, those in Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska — recognize that conditions may change over time. The remaining state plans do not currently consider changing conditions because there is no current mandate to do so. “AIS planning is one of many areas where our laws and institutions do not adequately consider adaptation to climate change,” notes Carl Bruch, Co-Director of International Programs for ELI. “We are excited to break new ground in considering climate adaptation in a sophisticated way.”
Although most current plans do not consider changing conditions, states have the ability to update and adapt their plans to consider the impact of climate change. “Despite information gaps highlighted by state and scientific experts convened by ELI and EPA,” says co-author Austin Kane, “managers can begin to develop adaptive management frameworks to ensure that they will be able to incorporate climate change information as it becomes available.” The report identifies five practical steps that managers can implement to minimize the effects of climate change:
- Incorporate climate-change considerations into state invasive species leadership and coordination activities;
- Identify new and emerging aquatic invasive species threats resulting from climate change;
- Identify ecosystem vulnerabilities and improve methods to increase ecosystem resilience;
- Evaluate the efficacy of control mechanisms under changing conditions; and
- Manage information systems to include considerations of changing conditions.
An electronic version of the report is available free of charge from ELI’s website at http://www.elistore.org/reports_detail.asp?ID=11277.