West Africa to fight invasive by alien species

Accra, March 9, GNA - Dr Matthew K. Antwi, Deputy Minister of Environment and Science, on Monday called on West African Countries to pool available resources, unite and fight the Invasive Alien Species (IAS) that had plagued the Sub-Region, destroying biodiversity, development and livelihoods.

This, he said, could be done through strict border (land and water) and in-country surveillance and checks for its introduction, research into its management and adequate government financial and logistics support.

Dr Antwi was speaking at a Regional workshop on the Prevention and Management of IAS in Accra.

It was on the theme: "The Prevention and Management of Invasive Alien Species: Forging Co-operation Throughout West Africa". IAS are plants introduced intentionally or unintentionally, spread at the expense of native species and are a threat to biodiversity, food security, health and economic development.

Species identified include Chromolaena odorata also known in Ghana as "Acheampong", paper mulberry and water hyacinth.

Their introduction is mainly due to human activity and vectors that transport organisms and shipments of food, household goods, wood and wood products, animal and plant products, cars trucks and aircrafts.

Dr Antwi noted that IAS could transform the structure and species composition of ecosystems by suppressing or excluding native species either directly by out-competing them for resources or indirectly by changing the way nutrients were cycled through the system.

He said the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) treaty would not only allow economies to be fully integrated, but also encourage the movement of people, goods and services.

"There is, therefore, the need for serious deliberations on the issue which should be of concern to all stakeholders," he said. Dr Antwi expressed regret that many nations continued to grapple with the complex and expensive IAS, now recognized as one of the greatest threats to the earth, environmental and economic well being. Presenting a paper on: "Invasive Alien Species in West Africa: Environmental and Economic Impact," Professor Emmanuel Owusu-Bennoah, Acting Director of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), said IAS had caused water loss three to five times more to reservoirs.

He noted that it had also reduced aquatic diversity; a change of fisheries and the loss of about several tonnes of cereal per annum. He, therefore, called for awareness creation of the issues, development of early warning systems, to predict potential new invasive species, as well as risk and environmental impact assessments. Prof Owusu-Bennoah called for a legal framework at both the national and international levels, to support management efforts, and for polluters to be made to bear the cost of prevention and control measures.

Mr Clement Elendi, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, said water hyacinth, another invasive species, was causing destruction to water bodies, fishing nets and boats.

He pledged the Ministry's support to any recommendation that would help fight the invasive species to free biodiversity from all dangers for economic growth. 09 March 04