19^th Meeting of the Panel on Invasive Alien Plants

Irkustk (RU), 2014-05-13/15

The 19^th meeting of the Panel on Invasive Alien Plants took place in Irkustk (RU) on 2014-05-13/15 at the kind invitation of the Russian NPPO. Mr Kulakov and Ms Mironova, from the Russian Plant Quarantine Center made a presentation on activities undertaken on invasive alien plants in Russia.

The Panel used the prioritization process to assess plants on the EPPO Alert List and recommended including Ambrosia confertiflora, Arctotheca calendula and Gunnera tinctoria on the EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants, and Andropogon virginicus on the EPPO Observation List of Invasive Alien Plants. 

The Panel validated the PRA on Parthenium hysterophorus, which should be presented to the Working Party on Phytosanitary Regulations with the recommendation to include the species on the EPPO A2 List of pests  recommended for regulation in 2014. The next invasive alien plant to be subject to an EPPO PRA in 2014 is Microstegium vimineum.

The Panel validated the PM9 on invasive alien aquatic plants, which should be presented to the Working Party on Phytosanitary Regulations for publication as a Standard in 2014. The Panel commented on the drafts PM9 on Baccharis halimifolia and Parthenium hysterophorus which will be sent for country consultation.

The Panel also discussed how to undertake communication actions on invasive alien plants, and was supportive of communication material to be developped on Parthenium hysterophorus as a case study.

A field trip was organized on the Baikal Lake, and participants could see Siberian ecosystems and visit the Irkutsk Botanic Garden.

Participants near Lake Baikal - View more pictures >