Missouri Enacts Legislation to Combat Invasive Species, Aligning with Sustainable Development Goals

Legislative Action and Sustainable Economic Transition

The state of Missouri has taken a significant step towards environmental preservation with the signing of Senate Bill 105 into law. This legislation prohibits the sale of six specific invasive plant species, directly addressing key environmental targets. The law reflects a commitment to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by regulating the commercial plant market to prevent ecological harm.

The banned species include:

• Sericea lespedeza
• Burning bush
• Callery pear
• Japanese honeysuckle
• Perilla mint
• Wintercreeper

To ensure a just transition and mitigate revenue loss for horticultural businesses, the law incorporates a phased implementation. This approach balances environmental objectives with economic sustainability, a core principle of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Protecting Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biodiversity (SDG 15)

The primary objective of the legislation is the protection of Missouri’s native habitats, a goal in direct alignment with SDG 15: Life on Land. This SDG aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss. The Missouri Invasive Plant Council has highlighted the severe threat that invasive species pose to this goal.

The ecological impacts of these invasive plants include:

• Displacement of native plant species that form the foundation of local ecosystems.
• Disruption of the natural food web, impacting native insect populations.
• Reduction in food sources for songbirds and other wildlife that depend on native insects.
• Diminished availability of pollen and nectar from native plants, which is critical for pollinators.

By banning these species, the law directly addresses SDG Target 15.8, which calls for measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems.

Broader Implications for Sustainable Communities and Food Systems

This legislative action also contributes to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by promoting the use of native species in urban and suburban landscaping, thereby enhancing local biodiversity and ecological resilience. Furthermore, by protecting pollinator populations, the law indirectly supports SDG 2: Zero Hunger, which recognizes the critical role of pollinators in maintaining sustainable and resilient food production systems.

Implementation Timeline

The law is scheduled to go into effect on August 28. The phase-out for the sale of the specified plants is structured to allow sellers time to adjust their inventory.

1. Sale of five of the plant species must cease by January 1, 2027.
2. Sale of the remaining two species must cease by January 1, 2029.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 15: Life on Land

• This goal aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss. The article directly connects to this goal by discussing a new law in Missouri designed to “protect Missouri’s working lands and native habitats.” The core issue is the threat that invasive plants pose to local ecosystems, which is a primary concern of SDG 15. The article states that “invasive plants displace native species, which are the foundation for nature’s web of life,” highlighting a direct threat to biodiversity.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 15: Life on Land

1. Target 15.8: “By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species.”
   • The article is centered on Missouri’s Senate Bill 105, a legislative measure that “halts the sale of sericea lespedeza, burning bush, Callery pear, Japanese honeysuckle, perilla mint and wintercreeper.” This law is a direct action to prevent the further introduction and spread of specific, prioritized invasive alien species, aligning perfectly with this target.
2. Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.”
   • The rationale for the law, as explained by Carol Davit, is that invasive plants “displace native species.” This displacement leads to a loss of food sources for insects and, subsequently, for “all of the songbirds that depend on those insects for food.” This illustrates a direct link between invasive species and the degradation of habitats and loss of biodiversity, which the new law aims to halt.
3. Target 15.9: “By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.”
   • The signing of Senate Bill 105 into law represents the integration of biodiversity values into state-level (local) planning and legislation. The government of Missouri has formally recognized the threat of invasive species and has taken legal action to protect its native ecosystems, demonstrating this target in practice.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Indicator related to Target 15.8: The article provides a clear example of what is measured by the official SDG Indicator 15.8.1: “Proportion of countries adopting relevant national legislation and adequately resourcing the prevention or control of invasive alien species.”
  • The article’s entire focus is on the signing of “Senate Bill 105” into law. This bill is a piece of sub-national legislation specifically designed to prevent and control invasive species. Therefore, the existence of this law is a direct measure of progress for this indicator.
• Implied Indicator for Target 15.8: The article explicitly lists the six invasive plants that will be banned. This implies a measurable indicator such as the “Number of priority invasive alien species controlled through legislation.”
  • The article identifies the six species: “sericea lespedeza, burning bush, Callery pear, Japanese honeysuckle, perilla mint and wintercreeper.” Tracking the implementation of the ban on these specific plants serves as a direct indicator of action being taken.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ksmu.org