Project name: Risk Assessment Study of invasive species in the Sava River Basin area, which includes the countries Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia: 1. False-indigo bush (Amorpha fruticosa L.), Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica Houtt, Reynoutria sachalinensis (F. S. Petrop.) Nakai in T. Mori, Reynoutria x bohemica Chrtek et Chrtková), 3. Giant goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L., Solidago gigantea Aiton) with a risk assessment audit by two independent experts
Client: Lonjsko Polje Nature Park
Period: 07/2019 – 04/2020
Location: Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia
For the purposes of the Risk Assessment Study, all relevant scientific materials and other professional literature concerning the following plant species were collected: Amorphafruticosa, Reynoutriajaponica, Reynoutriasachalinensis, Reynoutria x bohemica, Solidagocanadensis and Solidagogigantea.
The risk assessment was made in accordance with eng. Non-native Risk assessment (NNRA) methodology (Baker et al. 2008, Mumford et al. 2010). The methodology answers all questions provided for in the Annex to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/968 of 30 April 2018 supplementing Regulation (EU) no. 1143/2014.
The values of the risk assessment were rated on a scale from 1 to 5, and according to the mentioned scale, the range of the impact of the invasive alien species on individual environmental components (impact on biodiversity, ecosystem, economy, economy and human health) was scored within the risk assessment. Also, risk assessment included scoring the confidence level of the assessment (Bacher et al. 2017), with the confidence level rated as low, moderate, or high.
The implementation of the risk assessment was based on the most reliable available scientific publications and research, on the basis of which reliable answers and descriptions to the questions within the components were systematically provided.
Objectivity in risk assessment was ensured by quality control of the assessment content and its review, and control was carried out by two independent evaluators / experts.
The risk assessment was made separately for each of the six (6) species prescribed by the Project Agreement, and for each of the species, based on available data, the following was made: current distribution map, potential future distribution map and habitat view (according to CORINE Land Cover classes) that are favorable for the settlement of the species.
The assessment was made separately for each species for the Sava River Basin area which includes Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia as well as separately for Croatia.
Photo credits: Sisak-Moslavina County and Lonjsko Polje Nature Park