According to Regional Law 10/2008 of the Lombardy region, exotic (or non-native or alien) species are animal or plant species that do not belong to the original fauna or flora of a specific geographical area but have been introduced there by human intervention.
The introduction of exotic species can be accidental or intentional, but it is not guaranteed that the introduced species will survive long-term and/or reproduce and spread easily (naturalization). Some exotic species can become invasive (Invasive Alien Species or IAS) by naturalizing in the regions where they were introduced and spreading uncontrollably, thanks to significant adaptive advantages over native species (e.g., resistance to local pathogens, absence of predators, high growth and/or regeneration rate, etc.). Foraging invasive wild herbs can become an effective tool in combating the spread of alien and invasive wild species.
Invasive exotic species generally cause serious damage to one or more of the following areas:
Health (human or animal)
Biodiversity, ecosystems, and landscapes
Economy (significant economic damage to agriculture, forestry, infrastructure, etc.)
An exotic species is always considered high-impact when it poses a high risk to human health and represents a direct threat to the conservation of species or habitats included in protection lists or of particular naturalistic and scientific interest.
With Resolution of the Regional Government of Lombardy no. 2658 of December 16, 2019, the new Black List of alien animal and plant species in Lombardy was approved, in accordance with LR10/2008. The new lists entirely replace Annexes D and E of the Resolution of the Regional Government of Lombardy 7736/2008.
For general information on the regulatory framework, it is possible to visit the dedicated page on the Lombardy Region website, which contains laws and regulations aimed at limiting the spread of exotic species, supporting activities for monitoring, containment, and eradication. With Resolution of the Regional Government of Lombardy no. 7387 of November 21, 2022, the regional strategy for action and interventions to control and manage alien species was approved, pursuant to Legislative Decree no. 230/2017. The regional institutional website also provides lists of species already included in the Black Lists as per resolution no. 2658 of 16.12.2019, integrated with Union species based on the latest update (EU Regulation no. 1203/2022).
To check the distribution of exotic species, you can access the database of the Biodiversity Observatory of the Lombardy Region, while to report sightings, you can access your profile (for registered users only), or, for plants, participate in the Union and Regional Exotic Plants campaign via the Biodiversity App.
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