Invasive Plants Widely Spread, CBCGDF Research Office Recommended Technical Guidelines Need to Clearly Define the Land Area

Recently, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the "Technical Guidelines for Remote Sensing Survey of Biodiversity (Terrestrial Ecosystems)", "Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment of Environmental Release of Genetically Modified Plants (Trial)", "Impact of Alien Invasive Plants on Plant Diversity in Nature Reserves" the 8th technical standard of the "Assessment Technical Guidelines", which is undergoing the second public solicitation of opinions.

In response to opinions solicitation of the “Impact of Alien Invasive Plants on Plant Diversity in Nature Reserves”, the Research office of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) seriously studied the standard and proposed 10 advices for it. Specific suggestions are as follows.

 

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1. It is recommended that the main title of this technical guide be changed to: Technical Guide for Assessment of the Impact of Terrestrial Alien Invasive Plants on Plant Diversity in Nature Reserves.

Reason: Consistent with the scope of application stipulated in this technical guideline.

2. Page 1 section 2, the normative cited documents. It is recommended to add "Technical Guidelines for Environmental Risk Assessment of Alien Species" (HJ624-2011) and "Technical Regulations for Survey and Assessment of Diversity of Terrestrial Higher Plants in County Areas"

Reason: The former has strong correlation and can be used as a reference; the survey method can be adapted to local conditions and the optimal survey method can be selected. There are more choices for actual operation and will not cause conflicts in applications.

3. Page 1, section 3.2. The definition of invasive alien plants: “An alien plant that colonizes, reproduces, and spreads in natural or semi-natural ecosystems, and causes obvious damage or adverse effects to biodiversity and social economy.” It is recommended to modify it to: “In Alien plants that settle, reproduce, and spread in natural or semi-natural ecosystems, form a certain population size, and cause significant damage or adverse effects to biodiversity and social economy."

Reason: The definition of "forming a certain population size" is added to the definition, and the definition of "invasive alien plants" will be clearer and easier for practical application. A single alien plant or a small number of alien plants cannot become an invasive alien plant.

4. Page 1 section 3.3. It is recommended to change the definition name to "native plant"

Reason: The concepts of native plants and indigenous plants have been used in the plant taxonomy system for a long time, and there is no need to add another identical concept.

5. Definition of endemic plants on page P1: “Plant species that naturally distribute in a narrow or unusually narrow geographical area or plant species that are only distributed in a specific area. This area refers to a natural geographical unit within a certain administrative region.”, it is recommended to amend it to: "Plant species that have a narrow or unusually narrow natural distribution geographical area, or plant species that are only distributed in a specific natural area."

Reason: The original definition is repeated and inconsistent in expression. It is more concise and clearer after modification. The distribution areas of endemic plants refer to natural areas, or physical geographical units.

6. Page 2 assessment procedure mentioned "The impact of invasive plants on plant diversity in nature reserves" is recommended to be revised to "Evaluation of the impact of invasive alien plants on plant diversity in nature reserves, including the preparation stage, on-site investigation stage, and results" ; In the form prepared for the assessment, it is recommended that the "Current Status of Invasive Alien Plants in Nature Reserves" in the data collection section should be changed to "Overview of Invasive Plants in Nature Reserves."

Reason 1: The word "evaluation" is missing, the expression is incomplete, and the nature of the core work is unclear.

Reason 2: In the early data collection, regarding the situation of invasive alien plants in the survey area, in addition to the preliminary overview of the current status of invasive alien plants, the focus is on understanding the historical information of invasive alien plants in the survey area, including species types, distribution areas, and spread. Trends etc.

7. In the assessment content in section 6.1.2 on page 3, “Regarding the distribution status of invasive plants inside and outside the nature reserve, potential spread risks, and impact on local plant diversity, the core protection areas and general control areas of the nature reserves will be evaluated respectively. ". It is recommended to be revised to "Evaluate the core protection areas and general control areas of nature reserves separately from three aspects: the distribution status of invasive plants inside and outside nature reserves, their impact on native plant diversity and potential spread risks."

Reason: The three levels of analysis and evaluation of the impact of invasive plants in nature reserves, from the impact on the nature reserve area itself to potential risks or peripheral impacts, have an inherent logic and sequence, and should not be changed.

8. In section 6.2.1, the field investigation methods on Page 3, is recommended to add transect method and sampling method on the basis of typical sampling method, verification method and systematic sampling method.

Reason: transect method and sample method are the most commonly used plant survey methods in practice, and they are also applicable to the survey of invasive alien plants. At the same time, it echoes the provisions of Section 5.2 (carry out transect and quadrat surveys, record survey information, and understand the species, distribution and harm of alien invasive plants inside and outside the nature reserve).

9. Modifications to section 6.3 on page P3, are the same as Article 6.

10. The order of the tables in Table A on page P5: Assessment of the Impact of Alien Invasive Plants on Plant Diversity in Nature Reserves should be adjusted. The same as Article 6.

Original Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/8MqvguGvbj9kocu-vAWuRQ

Translator: Yujie

Checked by Sara

Editor: Yujie

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

 

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