Alien Species.vp - IUCN

the invasive aliens in the country, their potential threat and how humans help to disperse and
introduce those invasives into new ecosystems.
Even conservation organizations need to increase their awareness of IAS. For instance, some
fast-growing invasive alien plants, such as Annona glabra and Alstonia macrophylla, are used
for tree planting campaigns. On the other hand, unplanned invasive species eradication
campaigns have also proven detrimental to native biota. For example, several local NGOs
launched a manual eradication programme to remove gorse (Ulex europaeus) spreading in the
montane zone grasslands. The gorse bushes are inhabited by several species of endemic
herpetofauna, as these shrubs provide food (i.e., insects attracted to flowers) and cover.
However, when these shrubs were removed haphazardly, the herpetofauna inhabiting them
were exposed to opportunistic carnivorous birds in these areas.
b. Legislation
Legislation is essential to avoid spread of invasives and importation of aliens. The existing
legal framework for regulating planned and unplanned introduction of alien species is heavily
biased towards pests, diseases and weeds and is inadequate to address the impacts on
biodiversity. Except for the Water Hyacinth Ordinance, none of the other legislation deals
directly with IAS that threaten native biota. This has led to many institutional and some legal
disputes in relation to the import of alien organisms. Enforcement of the existing laws is highly
inadequate. Two regulatory and enforcement authorities (Department of Wildlife, Department
of Customs) which have recognised the importance of prevention of entry of IAS are facing
stiff resistance from the private sector which is involved in activities which facilitate such
entry. The obvious discrepancies between macroeconomic policies and those on the
environment, and between sectoral policies and legislation (i.e., trade and environment),
underlie the conflicts and lack of cooperation at the institutional and other operational levels.
Although Sri Lanka has a good quarantine regulation (import control legislation, etc.),
sometimes its rules are neglected (i.e., recent release of mango and mango plants against the
Plant Protection Act). National rules and regulations must be reviewed according to the current
conditions.
c. Research
Research on invasive aliens in Sri Lanka has been based mainly on personal interests and in an
ad hoc manner. Individuals are working based on their interests on various aspects of invasive
alien species ranging from pure biology to management and utilization of species on Mimosa
pigra, Myroxylon balsamum, Prosopis juliflora, etc.
d. Management
Actual management of invasive alien species is rare in Sri Lanka. The results of the few
examples mentioned above suggest that control and eradication is not an easy task, and will
require long-term well-planned experiments to understand ecological interactions of aliens
with the natural ecosystems.
e. Policy
Focus on the larger picture of impacts of IAS on the environment is lacking. The virtual
absence of detailed economic, social and political aspects of IAS has led to a void in policy
advocacy based on sound technical information. Overall, the lack of awareness within the
country, ranging from policy and decision makers to the local resource users, of the nature,
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Human dimensions of invasive alien species