Piero Genovesi & Melanie Josefsson Waterford, Ireland 1 June 2010 Integrating invasive species data into a European early warning information system: experiences from DAISIE and NOBANIS Piero Genovesi & Melanie Josefsson Waterford, Ireland 1 June 2010

Key activities in DAISIE

DAISIE & NOBANIS Differences in focus Differences in structure DAISIE research oriented NOBANIS environmental management oriented Differences in structure DAISIE top-steered, centralized dataflow Taxonomic group leaders with authority to upload NOBANIS distributed dataflow National focal points

Nobanis PROS: Formal involvement of Member states Expanding framework Long-term committment Limited investment of resources Good circulation of information Effective networking CONS Not fully harmonised national systems Taxonomy Terms/definitions Limited scientific background Limited investment of resources Updating irregular between countries

DAISIE PROS: CONS Solid scientific background Data verified Very comprehensive inventory Extraordinary scientific outcomes Substantial initial investment of resources Better uniformity in taxonomy/definitions CONS Short term initiative No direct involvement of GOs Limited impact on decision makers Conflict of interests in making data public Difficulties in updating data Does not cover alien genotypes/populations

Requirements for integrating information from many sources to one Uniformity of terms – common definitions of invasiveness, common criteria for geographic information Solving the taxonomy issue - agreement to follow guidelines on taxonomy Regular updating of information – automatic function for comparing the national and central databases?

Possible points for discussion How to integrate the Nobanis and DAISIE approaches? (science + involvement of states/GOs) How to influence the ongoing process toward a European early warning rapid response system? How to make an integrated system sustainable (administration, manpower, funding...)?

Other issues to be solved Solving the scale problem – can one information system solve regional and national needs for an Early Warning and Rapid Response system? Does Europe need one EW system or several? (ballast water, marine strategy directive, EPPO Plant Alert System, animal health, EMPRES human health)? Hosting of the system and resources for long term maintenance and development Conflicts of interest in making data public Data ownership

Discussion Need to establish a European information system, with focus on EWRR, but not only Need to integrate a scientific basis (authority) with network of national authorities (Nobanis). Learn from CITES system Challenge for Nobanis to combine national dbs into a European wide organised system Keep national basis, but centralised umbrella crucial, and stronger central work on definitions, criteria, etc