Assessments of the ecological risk of alien species is made by expert committees with expertise on the different species groups. All together 52 experts was involved in the work with the Alien Species List 2018.

Algae

Vivian Husa (Chair)

Institute of Marine Research

Kjersti Sjøtun

University of Bergen (UiB)

Stein Fredriksen

University of Oslo (UiO)

Fungi

Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Oomycota

Halvor Solheim (Chair)

Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO)

Bjørn Nordén

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Venche Talgø

Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO)

Leif Sundheim

Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO)

Tor-Erik Brandrud

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Vascular plants

Reidar Elven (Chair)

University of Oslo (UiO), Natural History Museum

Hanne Hegre Grundt

FlowerPower

Vigdis Vandvik

University of Bergen (UiB)

Oddvar Pedersen

University of Oslo (UiO), Natural History Museum

Kristine B. Westergaard

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Heidi Solstad

University of Oslo (UiO), Natural History Museum

Per Arvid Åsen

University of Agder (UiA), Natural History Museum & Botanical Garden

Per Anker Pedersen

Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

Kristina Bjureke

University of Oslo (UiO), Natural History Museum

Hornworts, liverworts and mosses (Hornworts, liverworts and mosses )

Kristian Hassel (Chair)

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NTNU University Museum

Marine invertebrates

Porifera, Anthozoa, Polychaeta, Mollusca, Brachiopoda, Echinodermata, Ascidiacea, Crustacea

Tone Falkenhaug (Chair)

Institute of Marine Research

Eivind Oug

Norwegian Institute for Water Research

Anders Jelmert

Institute of Marine Research

Jan Sundet

Institute of Marine Research

Bjørn Gulliksen

University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway (UIT)

Freshwater invertebrates

Crustacea, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Mollusca, Polychaeta

Gaute Kjærstad (Chair)

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NTNU University Museum

Stein Ivar Johnsen

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Tomas Jensen

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Terrestrial invertebrates

Mecoptera, Raphidioptera, Megaloptera, Neuroptera, Colleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Collembola, Arachnida (except Acari), Myriapoda, Orthoptera, Blattodea, Dermaptera, Hemiptera, Mollusca

Frode Ødegaard (Chair)

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Sandra Åstrøm

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Anders Endrestøl

Norsk institutt for naturforsdkning

Øivind Gammelmo

Biofokus

Hallvard Elven

University of Oslo (UiO), Natural History Museum

Bjørn Arild Hatteland

Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO)

Preben Ottesen

Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Geir Søli

University of Oslo (UiO), Natural History Museum

Fish

Elisabeth Forsgren (Chair)

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Fish (freshwater)

Trygve Hesthagen (Chair)

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Anders Finstad

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NTNU University Museum

Fish (marine)

Kjell Nedreaas (Chair)

Institute of Marine Research

Otte Bjelland

Institute of Marine Research

Rupert Wienerroither

Institute of Marine Research

Amphibians and reptiles

Dag Dolmen (Chair)

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NTNU University Museum

Jon Kristian Skei

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

Birds

Bård Gunnar Stokke (Chair)

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Jan Ove Gjershaug

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Mammals

Hans Christian Pedersen (Chair)

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Jon E.Swenson

Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

Per Ole Syvertsen

Helgeland Museum, Department of Natural History

Roundworms and flatworms

Nematoda, Platyhelminthes

Haakon Hansen (Chair)

Norwegian Veterinary Institute

Bjørnar Ytrehus

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)

Egil Karlsbakk

Institute of Marine Research

Christer Magnusson

Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO)

Inger Hamnes

Norwegian Veterinary Institute

How the expert committees function

The members of the expert committees represent a large component of the expertise on alien species in Norway. Each committee has a responsible chair that leads the committee. This arrangement is regulated by contract with the organisation with which the committee chair is associated.

Appointment to the committees

The Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre sent an open letter to the relevant Norwegian institutions and associations in June 2016. The invitation encouraged individuals and organisations with an interest in participating in the work of assessing alien species to get in touch. After dialogue with these groups, experts were appointed by the Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre.

It should be noted that around half of the experts appointed in 2016 also took part in the alien species risk assessment in 2012.

Informal meetings for the experts

The Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre arranges informal gatherings for the experts to go through the guidelines for risk assessment and to share experience and ideas. These gatherings, as well as the internal meetings of the committees, are important for reaching a common understanding of the methodology used for assessing alien species.