It is of great significant to note that, exotic species are those life forms that are introduced into environments where they did not originate. On the other hand, invasive exotic species are life forms that are alien to a certain environment; and whose establishment lead to financial mischief or harm to human health. In this relation, alien species once introduced can hardly be eradicated as in their normal environments; these life forms developed established populations and multifaceted relationships with other species. In this case, when they are detached from their predators, parasites, diseases and challengers that have been reducing their population; species established into new environments more often than not elude their new home and crowd out indigenous species (Mitchell & Tully, 2008).
It is of importance to note that, human being are the ones associated with introduction of invasive exotic species like plants and animals in their adventure world wide. A good example of an invasive exotic species in Australia is the introduction of feral animals which have few natural killers or lethal diseases with others having high reproductive rates. According to the article written by the Australian government under the department of ‘Sustainability, Environment, Water Pollution and Communities'; these animals have impacted on the native animals by killing them, competing with them for food and shelter, destroying their environment, and by spreading diseases in Australia (Australian Government, 2010).
Implications of invasive exotic species to Australian government and communities
It is of importance to note that, invasive exotic species like the case of feral animals have caused a lot of negative implications to the Australian government and the entire community in areas where they are found. On the basis of feral animals, they have degraded vegetation that has been serving as a provider of food and shelter for them and other indigenous animals in Australia. In this relation, as the vegetation has been badly destroyed by these feral animals; the rabbit-eared bilby and other indigenous species have been placed under great pressure. Additionally, the feral cats and foxes hunt and kill indigenous birds, reptiles, mammals and insects hence placing these native species at the risk of extinction (Todd, 2002)
A point worth noting is that, degradation of vegetation on the earth surface causes soil erosion hence poor farm produce. In this connection, since it is easy to remove the domesticated animals from the degraded areas until the vegetation regenerate; it becomes very difficult to remove these feral animals for regeneration of vegetations. Additionally, most of the exotic species are capable of transmitting diseases than native species. A good example here is the feral animals in Australia which can carry the same diseases that affect domestic animals. In this relation, feral animals are latent carriers of diseases like rabies and foot and mouth as well as parasites like the screw fly worm (Green, 2006).
In Australia, the government has come up with a plan which is outlined in the ‘Environment Protection and biodiversity Conservation Act 1999' under threat abatement plan (TAP). In this plan, the Australian government is planning to reduce competition and land degradation by feral rabbits. On this basis, this plan institutes a nationalized structure to guide and organize Australia's reaction to the impacts of feral rabbits on biodiversity (Davies, 2005). Additionally, the Australian government has been preventing the spread of invasive exotic species like papaya fruit fly and red imported fire ant; through quarantine strategies which are mostly placed at the Northern Australia. In this connection, quarantine strategies have been placed in Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya to prevent pests coming from Southeast Asia and Pacific countries (Davies, 2005). Further, the Australia government through legislative measures has conducted surveys, inspection, and destroying of infected materials in the effort of managing pest incursion. On the other hand, Australian communities in general have worked together in the elimination of harms caused by invasive exotic species. In this relation, biological, chemical, and mechanical control mechanisms have been used by the community members in the effort of warding off the exotic species. On this basis, community members have campaigned against the introduction of these species and have worked together with the use of the new technology to wipe off the new species (Carpenter, 2004).
Actions of the international community regarding the issue of invasive exotic species
As far as threats to biodiversity are concerned, invasive exotic species are ranked second in the destruction of environment such as soil erosion and forest clearing. As a result of this problem, international communities have acted in regard to this problem. In this respect therefore, the European Community (EC) has identified alien species as a problem causing biodiversity loss hence seriously damaging economy and health (McNeely, 2004). In this case, this body has come up with rules and regulation concerning this emerging issue of exotic species. Among these rules, people involved in wildlife trade and in rearing live animals and plants are expected by the law to be adequately careful on the species they have. This is done to prevent damage of the indigenous plants and animals from the introduction of the new species, and spreading of diseases from animals to humans. On the other hand, legalization of animal welfare, invasive species and human safety is present at global, European and national levels. The European Communities actions have been of grate use to many other global economies that have copied from them. On this basis, this organization has extended its actions to other developed and developing countries (McNeely, 2004).
On the other hand, the NOBANIS is a non governmental organization in Europe that looks into problems related to invasive exotic species and how to solve this problem. In this relation, this organization under the program of ‘Global Invasive Species' deals with the international threats brought about by the invasive exotic species and offer support to the implementation of strategies leading to the elimination of these species. This organization was in May 20th, 2010 addressing conservation of environment in Nairobi Kenya. It is of importance to note that, NOBANIS is open to all countries in the world where legislation processes are according to the Nature Conservation Act 1999; are followed accordingly. Moreover, ‘Convention on Biological diversity (CBD) aimed at the management and protection of biological diversity in order to uphold the global ecological situation in the face of its financial development (Akcakaya, 2004). In this relation, the main issue of this organization is to prevent the establishment of alien species and to control and eliminate them from the ecosystem which they threaten. In addition, the International Plant Protection Convection (IPPC) is another body that addresses the issue of invasive exotic species globally. In this relation, this organization chiefly concentrates with protection of indigenous plants and plants products in the biological environment. It should be noted that, all these organizations have a common goal of eradicating invasive exotic species internationally (Akcakaya, 2004).
Proposed solutions to the issue of invasive exotic species
Significantly, invasive exotic species have caused a lot of problems to the native species and also to the entire environment globally and hence they should be eradicated. As a result of this, there are various solutions given to solve this problem which includes regulation of movement of these species by the world's governments (Australian Government, 2010). In this case, world's government should be at the fore front in the regulation of introduction of these harmful species in their countries by applying measures like quarantine. In this relation, government should conduct researches and surveys concerning different exotic species in order to examine their usefulness and damages and then decide whether to ban on their introduction or not. On this basis, there should be improved understanding of how and why species get introduced into a country and hence investigate species that are capable of destroying existing ecosystems. This process of quarantine is difficult since the invasive species need to be known and thoroughly researched before placing quarantine measures. On the other hand, it is relatively expensive to examine usefulness and damages of these species in a country as some of them are more useful (Australian Government, 2010).
In addition, a system of environmental risk analysis should be instituted in order to eradicate invasive exotic species and prevent native species. On this basis, risk investigation strategies should be utilized in the identification and evaluation of the relevant risks of a proposed activity concerning exotic species. In this concern, there should be development of criteria of measuring and classifying impacts of alien species on the natural environment (Green, 2006). This would include detailed protocols for evaluating the possibility of incursion in specific environments or ecosystems. More so, public awareness and engagement should be built for a successful invasive species management. This involves sharing of appropriate information in the avoidance of contradiction and maximizing effectiveness. In this aspect, the main stakeholders, neighbors and communities should be engaged in creation of solution to the problem of invasive exotic invasion. It should be noted that, some exotic species are more economic than the native ones and hence it is difficult to eradicate them. Additionally, educating the public about exotic species may be an expensive and slow process. Despite the difficulties faced in the process of controlling the introduction of exotic invasive species; these measures mentioned above are practical as they help in preventing completion posed to the native species (Green, 2006).
From a personal point of view, the best course of action within the international community in the present future is to build a public awareness and engagement. In this case, each and every participant will be aware of the dangers posed by invasive exotic species to the environment. According to the study conducted by the McNeely J. et al (2004), the public should be engaged in the prevention of invasive exotic species as they are the ones that introduce them into the country. It should be noted that, governments and international communities should work together in the protection of environment by making it clear to the public about the problems of this species to the environment. On this basis, NGOs should play the role of building capacity of the local communalities and groups in the implementation of protection measures on the environment (Davies, 2005).
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