Topic: 2025-Regulating Invasive Species
Country: United States of America
Delegate Name: Ryan Wu
Committee: IUCN
School: Greenhills School
Invasive Species are not-native or alien to the environment in which they are currently living and cause harm to surrounding environments, economics, or humans. Invasive species are spread primarily through human activities unintentionally. Some of the most common ways are through ship ballast water, firewood, shipping containers, and accidental release. The introduction and establishment of any type of invasive species poses a threat to native plant and animal communities and destroys biodiversity. Their interference in the natural ecosystem can permanently alter and damage habitats, negatively impacting the native environments. In 1993, the Convention on Biological Diversity was put into effect, with the objective of protecting biodiversity overall, and specifically calls on parties to control invasive species in Article 8H. Other initiatives include the International Plant Protection Convention, which works to protect the spread of invasive species that may harm plants, as well as the IUCN itself, which retains a database for invasive species.
The United States of America considers invasive species to be a serious risk and is working to mitigate their spread. However, the U.S. often has its own approaches to controlling invasive species separate from UN and international standards due to various reasons, such as strict trade restrictions, high regulatory costs, and conflicts with domestic policies. Instead, the U.S. uses various laws and domestic agencies to contain them. Domestically, The U.S. established the National Invasive Species Council in 1999 to organize federal efforts in managing invasive species. The Lacey Act prohibits any importation, trade, or any type of transport of “injurious wildlife”, and the The National Invasive Species Act of 1996 provides much stricter regulations to ballast water than the International Maritime Organization’s. Different aspects of mitigating alien species are run by different departments (i.e. the U.S. Fish and Wildlife enforces the Lacey Act & the Coast Guard manages ballast water rules). The U.S. is currently working with other countries and participating with international groups to develop plans to help prevent species from traveling beyond borders and from being ‘imported’ as well as ‘exported’.
The United States of America would favor the IUCN adopting a framework to help regulate alien species. It should be noted that this is not an international law, but is rather acting as a guide for countries. This framework should include specific steps, beginning with collecting data and evidence needed to introduce measures. The U.S. believes that science should play a key role in tackling this problem, and encourages other nations to do the same. There should also be advice regarding stronger border policies, such as import/export restrictions, which would better help countries create legislation that would stop the flow of invasive species in and out of their soil. It should also be recommended that countries develop international partnerships with other nations leading to biosecurity measures, to better control species from the source and the destination. Through these partnerships, countries may also want to support each other through direct funding and assistance, helping other countries better prepare and equip themselves for combating this problem. However, the U.S. urges the IUCN to let member nations have freedom in deciding the policies to fight invasive species and to allow governments to work independently on this issue as well. In general, the United States of America would love to work with delegates from other nations to fight back against invasive species and restore natural environments.
— “Invasive Species.” UNDRR, 7 June 2023, www.undrr.org/understanding-disaster-risk/terminology/hips/bi0005.
— Federal Government’s Response for Invasive Species | National Invasive Species Information Center. www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/federal-governments-response-invasive-species.
— “Lacey Act | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” FWS.gov, www.fws.gov/law/lacey-act.
— “National Invasive Species Act of 1996 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” FWS.gov, 29 Nov. 1990, www.fws.gov/law/national-invasive-species-act-1996.
— “Ballast Water Management.” DNV, www.dnv.com/maritime/ballast-water-management.
— “U.S. Department of The Interior Invasive Species Strategic Plan.” U.S. Department of The Interior Invasive Species Strategic Plan, report, U.S. Department of the Interior, 2021, p. 54. www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/doi-invasive-species-strategic-plan-2021-2025-508.pdf.
— “International Cooperation | U.S. Department of the Interior.” U.S. Department of The Interior, www.doi.gov/invasivespecies/international_cooperation.
