issg Database: Management and Information Links for Ailanthus altissima

Ailanthus altissima (tree, shrub)

Ecology Distribution Management
Info Impact
Info References
and Links Contacts

         Management Information

Preventative measures: A Risk assessment of Ailanthus altissima for Australia was prepared by Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) using the Australian risk assessment system (Pheloung, 1995). The result is a score of 12 and a recommendation of: reject the plant for import (Australia) or species likely to be a pest (Pacific).

         Location Specific Management Information
Europe
A. altissima has been identified to pose an important threat to plant health, environment and biodiversity in the EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization ) region. EPPO has as its members 47 countries (nearly every country in the European and Mediterranean region). EPPO recommends strongly to countries endangered by these species to take measures to prevent their further introduction and spread or manage unwanted populations (for example publicity, restriction on sale and planting, control) (EPPO Reporting Service, September 2005).
Gibraltar
GONHS (Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society) volunteers are discussing the possibility of tackling this species, though this is dependent on suitable financial support. The Upper Rock Management plan recommends legislation prohibiting growing or keeping this species in gardens and homes within the reserve (Perez and Bensusan, undated in Varnham, 2006).
Mediterranean
A. altissima has been identified to pose an important threat to plant health, environment and biodiversity in the EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization ) region. EPPO has as its members 47 countries (nearly every country in the European and Mediterranean region). EPPO recommends strongly to countries endangered by these species to take measures to prevent their further introduction and spread or manage unwanted populations (for example publicity, restriction on sale and planting, control) (EPPO Reporting Service, September 2005).

         Management Resources/Links

1. AME, 2004 Agence Méditerranéenne de l'Environnement. Plantes Envahissantes de la Region Mediterraneenne. Ailanthus altissima
        Summary: In French- document on invasive A. altissima in the Mediterranean french area. Includes information on common names, images, ecology, background of the species in Europe, European distribution, distribution in France with a distribution map, control options, impacts and suggestions for alternative species.
Available from: http://www.ame-lr.org/plantesenvahissantes/index.html [Accessed October 1 2004]
2. European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), 2005. Reporting Service 2005, No. 9.
        Summary: The EPPO Reporting Service is a monthly information report on events of phytosanitary concern. It focuses on new geographical records, new host plants, new pests (including invasive alien plants), pests to be added to the EPPO Alert List, detection and identification methods etc. The EPPO Reporting Service is published in English and French.
Available from: http://archives.eppo.org/EPPOReporting/2005/Rse-0509.pdf [Accessed 28 November 2005]
3. Hoshovsky, M. 1986. TNC Element Stewardship Abstract: Ailanthus altissima and Ailanthus glandulosa. San Francisco: The Nature Conservancy.
        Summary: Report on description, habitat, distribution, threats and control.
4. Hu, S. 1979. Ailanthus. Arnoldia. 39(2):29-50.
        Summary: Report on description, habitat, distribution, threats and control.
5. Swearingen, J. M. and P. Pannill. 1999. Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). Washington, DC: National Park Service, Plant Conservation Alliance, Alien Plant Working Group.
        Summary: Report on description, ecological threat, current management approaches, distribution and habitat in the United States, background.
6. Varnham, K. 2006. Non-native species in UK Overseas Territories: a review. JNCC Report 372. Peterborough: United Kingdom.
        Summary: This database compiles information on alien species from British Overseas Territories.
Available from: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-3634 [Accessed 16 May 2006]
7. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Virginia Native Plant Society. 1999. Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle
        Summary: Report on description, habitat, distribution, threats and control.
         Results Page: 1

The Global Invasive Species Database is managed by the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. It was developed as part of the global initiative on invasive species led by the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) and is supported through partnerships with the National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Conditions of use.