NationStates

A resolution to improve the environment, at the expense of industry.

Category: Environment
Strength: Strong
Proposed by: Chapolia Zranzia

The General Assembly,
RECOGNIZING that international trade increases the risk of the transfer of species from one region of the world to another, to which the species in question is not native,
UNDERSTANDING that invasive species can destabilize an ecosystem and decrease biodiversity in the region in question,
NOTING that not only does the biosphere maintain habitability and quality of life, but also has intrinsic value in that it supports millions of other species,
INSISTING that it is the responsibility of humanity to rectify any damage done to the ecosystem, whether intentional or unintentional, and prevent such damage from occurring again, hereby:

1. Defines an "invasive species" as a species that
   
   1. is non-native to the region in question,
   2. is non-sapient,
   3. can out-compete other native species in terms of reproduction, survival, and adaptation,
   4. has the potential to destabilize the ecological balance of the region in question,
   5. and may decrease overall biodiversity in the region in question over time;
2. Defines an "intentionally invasive species" as an invasive species that
   
   1. was introduced to the region in question by international trade, and then released into the wild,
   2. intentionally or unintentionally,
   3. was brought to the region in question by a private individual, and then released into the wild, intentionally or unintentionally,
   4. or was smuggled to the region in question by an illegal market;
3. Defines an "unintentionally invasive species" as an invasive species that
   
   1. was introduced to the region in question via international vessels, i.e. by hitchhiking,
   2. or was brought to the region in question for scientific purposes, but was unintentionally released into the wild;
4. Mandates the inspection of all imported and exported goods, specifically that
   
   1. all biological exports must be inspected for native species which are non-native in the region to which it is being exported,
   2. and all biological imports must be inspected for non-native species;
   3. all non-biological exports and imports must undergo cursory inspection for any organisms,
   4. all non-biological exports and imports must undergo microbial sterilization, unless it can be proven that such sterilization would harm the object in question,
   5. and all shipping containers, exported and imported, must undergo microbial sterilization and thermal imaging to detect and exterminate foreign organisms;
5. Mandates the monitoring and licensing of all owners of non-native species, specifically that
   
   1. all owners of a non-native species must be licensed by the national government before importing the individual(s),
   2. all owners of a non-native species must submit to monitoring of the individual(s) by the government, which will ensure that they are not released into the wild,
   3. all owners of a non-native species must allow a radiotransmitter tag to be placed on their individual(s) at all times, so that the national government may track the individual(s)'s movements in the event that they are released into the wild,
   4. and all owners of a non-native species are fully accountable for ecological damage caused by their individual(s) in the event that they are released into the wild, and subject to major penalty if they are responsible for an intentionally invasive species;
6. Establishes the Committee for Invasive Species Control, which will be henceforth mentioned as the CISC, which will be responsible for
   
   1. ensuring that national governments facilitate the aforementioned investigations ethically and effectively,
   2. closely monitoring invasive species crises, and organizing aid programs for nations that are affected by said crises,
   3. ensuring that invasive species crises are dealt with ethically and effectively,
   4. tracking all international trade of exotic pets and non-native species,
   5. and decommissioning illegal trade of non-native species, working in concert with the Security Council;
7. Confirms that all World Assembly member nations will
   
   1. fully implement the inspection and monitoring of international trade and non-native species respectively, as detailed in Articles IV & V,
   2. comply with the efforts of the CISC in preventing and resolving invasive species crises in their own territory,
   3. support trade sanctions placed on noncompliant nations by the CISC, working in concert with the Security Council,
   4. and do everything in their power to preserve biodiversity and prevent destabilization of their environment due to the introduction of an invasive species.

See: Agricultural Invasive Species Act and Environmental Warfare Act

Honeydewistania wrote:See: Agricultural Invasive Species Act and Environmental Warfare Act

OOC: Those do partly cover the area of invasive species, but this seems to go much farther. It does sufficiently more, and different, to escape a charge of duplication IMO.

"Invasive species pose a unique threat to the habitats and ecosystems of every nation in the world (or at least those who have not destroyed their natural world for the sake of profit), therefore this is a problem that we hope numerous nations will be able to find common ground on. We, the people of West Kidora, throw our support behind the draft as it stands. While people should be freely able to intermingle and coexist outside their native home, flora and fauna do not have the same rights and must be contained so as to not destroy others."

Needs to add "non-sapient" to the definition of "invasive species", so that it doesn't block people from settling anywhere?

Bears Armed wrote:Needs to add "non-sapient" to the definition of "invasive species", so that it doesn't block people from settling anywhere?

Sure, if the nations of the world insist.
But do we really need to?

"Section 5 of Article VI:"

and decommissioning illegal trade of non-native species, working in concert with the Security Council;

"What is the Security Council doing in here?"

There is a difference between invasive species and foreigners. On the hand of foreigners they have the right to work and grow a life anywhere until the world as long as they follow the law and aren’t doing anything that cause harm to the area around it. On the other hand some invasive species that might harm the land near it or around it does not have the same right as humanity. There has to be rules set in areas where if a plant or a certain species starts to invade a land where it starts killing the land that was originally there, we must terminate the invasive flora or species.

Peterlandz wrote:There is a difference between invasive species and foreigners. On the hand of foreigners they have the right to work and grow a life anywhere until the world as long as they follow the law and aren’t doing anything that cause harm to the area around it. On the other hand some invasive species that might harm the land near it or around it does not have the same right as humanity. There has to be rules set in areas where if a plant or a certain species starts to invade a land where it starts killing the land that was originally there, we must terminate the invasive flora or species.

Section I (def. of an invasive species) takes care of that definition by specifying that it must have potential to decrease biodiversity, outcompete other species, etc.

As for the termination, the specific method is left to the government. However, the CISC would regulate certain methods, such as introduction of a counteracting species. It should be more specific but is approaching the character limit, unfortunately.

Peterlandz wrote:There is a difference between invasive species and foreigners. On the hand of foreigners they have the right to work and grow a life anywhere until the world as long as they follow the law and aren’t doing anything that cause harm to the area around it. On the other hand some invasive species that might harm the land near it or around it does not have the same right as humanity. There has to be rules set in areas where if a plant or a certain species starts to invade a land where it starts killing the land that was originally there, we must terminate the invasive flora or species.

Humans are an invasive species.

Bears Armed wrote:

Peterlandz wrote:There is a difference between invasive species and foreigners. On the hand of foreigners they have the right to work and grow a life anywhere until the world as long as they follow the law and aren’t doing anything that cause harm to the area around it. On the other hand some invasive species that might harm the land near it or around it does not have the same right as humanity. There has to be rules set in areas where if a plant or a certain species starts to invade a land where it starts killing the land that was originally there, we must terminate the invasive flora or species.

Humans are an invasive species.

"Ambassador, we are bearly an inch away from kicking all your unbearably smelly ursine brethrens' asses out of our glorious reich so think again before calling us an invasive species."

Ardiveds wrote:"Ambassador, we are bearly an inch away from kicking all your unbearably smelly ursine brethrens' asses out of our glorious reich so think again before calling us an invasive species."

"Perhaps," said Feren, "One should consider the environmental sciences behind the positions of the Urrish delegation, and the political ramifications of making threats and throwing insults in polite company."

Tinfect wrote:

Ardiveds wrote:"Ambassador, we are bearly an inch away from kicking all your unbearably smelly ursine brethrens' asses out of our glorious reich so think again before calling us an invasive species."

"Perhaps," said Feren, "One should consider the environmental sciences behind the positions of the Urrish delegation, and the political ramifications of making threats and throwing insults in polite company."

"Those filthy..." delegate Arthur starts speaking as he's dragged away by two men in suits. Delegate Jim enters the room. "Ummm... Ambassador, we do apologise for the crude language. We Ardivesians can be rather... protective of our species. But let us put this behind us." He looks at the Ursine ambassador with a nervous smile "apologies for... whatever the last guy said."

“Ignoring the... debacle occurring with some of the ambassadors here, why do you define ‘unintentionally invasive species’, if you don’t use the term outside of the definition? Additionally, I believe that IV-4 may be a little excessive, especially when there might not be a conceivable chance that any invasive species may be present.”