Strategy Against Invasive Alien Species In The Basin Of The Caribbean: The Point Of View Of The Services Of The Protection Of Plants Of America French Departments

Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyane, the French Overseas Departments of the Caribbean Basin are among the European Outermost Regions. Consequently, as specified in the European Union treaty, they must comply with European rules and have the same rights. Nevertheless, it is possible to take specific measures in their favour, as long as there is a real need of taking such measures in order to improve economic and social development of these regions. To take into account the necessity to apply specifications related to European phytosanitary rules for the protection of French Overseas Departments, the decision was made to review all lists of quarantine organisms (Appendix I & II) and phytosanitary measures (Appendix III to V) specific to the Overseas Departments. To be able to present these modifications, as it is required by the SPS agreement (Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures), Pest Risk Analyses (PRAs) were completed for 130 harmful organisms, potentially of quarantine importance. Experts and researchers of the CIRAD were in charge of writing these documents in coordination with the Plant Health Office. The project was made possible with funds from EU POSEIDOM 2002 & 2003. In 2005, PRAs will be conducted on potentially harmful and invasive weeds. At the same time, the decentralized plant protection services (DFA/SPV) prepared databases on agricultural pest and diseases already present in the region. This work was conducted in collaboration with the Regional Federation for Management of Noxious Organisms (FREDON) and the local CIRAD, INRA and IRD research centers. To fulfill the mission of the phytosanitary services, the sharing of knowledge on the regional situation, as well as on pathways of introduction related to trade, both internal and external to the region, is considered to be of first importance.