Biodiversity in the Pacific islands

A new regional invasive species strategy for the Pacific

Setting the framework for action against invasives

• SPREP member countries requested a regional invasive species strategy at the annual SPREP members’ meeting in 1998.
• A “Draft Strategy” was produced by SPREP in 2000.
• A review of the Strategy was stimulated by new invasives issues and the needs of member countries plus regional organisations such as the Pacific Invasives Initiative and GEF, and was begun in 2007.

The focus of the new Invasives Strategy is to produce a document that is better structured, updated and more comprehensive RISS. The previous strategy included only terrestrial issues, while the new RISS will include marine and freshwater as well.

RISS needs to include

• Background: situation in the region, action taken and in progress, lessons learnt
• Strategic context: putting RISS in the context of ASNC and other strategic documentsStrategic goals (regionally focused)
• An Action (implementation) Plan (missing in the Draft Strategy)
• Identify actors (groups) and their roles—specify lead agency in each part of Action Plan
• All 12 strategic components (information, awareness, infrastructure, protocols, legislation, funding and linkages, political support, habitat restoration, capacity management, biosecurity/prevention and invasive species management)
• Prioritization

Based on the above, 12 suggested RISS components so far are:

A. Support for invasives management

1. Information—Acquisition, management, sharing, technical support, linkages, networks, exchanges

2. Awareness at all levels—Communicate risks, impacts (on biodiversity, economy, health) and management possibilities, generate Community and Political Support

3. Capacity—Develop people, labs, reference collections, taxonomy etc

4. Legislation and Protocols—Establish, strengthen, harmonize and promote best practice and compliance/enforcement

5. Funding

B. Problem definition / Decision-making

6. Baseline—In-country inventories
7. Monitoring change— eg range expansions, impacts
8. Prioritization — PRA, WRA etc
9. Research on selected priorities — control techniques, species reproductive biology etc.

C. Action / Management

10. Biosecurity — Prevention, Detection and Rapid Response
11. Eradication, Containment, Control, Biocontrol — include management decision tools, project monitoring and evaluation
12. Restoration of native biodiversity — active, if unassisted is inadequate, focus on native ecosystem

During the coming months, SPREP and SPC will be leading a consultation and compilation process, with the aim of presenting a final Strategy for endorsement by both organisations’ memberships in mid-2008.

Further information, contact, Alan Tye, Invasive Species Officer.