Alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species
(Article 8 (h))
The Conference of the
Parties
1.
Notes the
importance of mainstreaming activities relating to invasive alien
species management, particularly with reference to poverty and
inequity, to provide optimal value to such activities;
2.
Welcomes the collaboration between the Convention on
Biological Diversity and other conventions and organizations, in
particular the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International
Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat and the International
Plant Protection Convention, in developing mechanisms to address
the threats posed by invasive alien species;
3.
Notes the adoption of the International Convention for the
Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments
under the International Maritime Organization, and recommends that
Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and other
Governments consider ratifying this Convention;
4.
Recognizes the need to strengthen further institutional
coordination among international organizations and requests
the Executive Secretary to:
(a) Promote
fuller consideration of issues relating to invasive alien species
in other international forums, including through the joint liaison
group of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Collaborative
Partnership on Forests;
(b) Further
collaborate with relevant organizations and initiatives including,
inter alia the Food and Agricultural Organization of the
United Nations, the World Health Organization and the International
Maritime Organization;
(c) Further
collaborate with relevant conventions including the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
(d) Support
closer coordination between national focal points of relevant
international instruments, regional institutions and international
conventions and programmes;
(e) Develop
a joint work plan with the secretariat of the International Plant
Protection Convention;
(f)
Establish closer linkages with the Office international des
épizooties;
(g) Explore
options for closer collaboration with the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO) in the development of a preventive
strategy for invasive alien species through civil-aviation
pathways;
(h)
Cooperate with relevant site-based conventions and other
organizations to develop biome-specific practical guidance for site
managers;
5.
Noting the existing international, regional and national
frameworks but recognizing the need to strengthen
institutional coordination at international, regional and national
levels on invasive alien species as a trade-related
issue:
(a)
Invites the World Trade Organization and its relevant bodies
to give consideration to the risks from invasive alien species, in
their deliberations;
(b)
Requests the Executive Secretary to collaborate, whenever
feasible and appropriate, with the Secretariat of the World Trade
Organization in its training, capacity-building and information
activities, with a view to raising awareness of the issues related
to invasive alien species, and promoting enhanced cooperation on
this issue;
(c)
Requests the Executive Secretary to renew his application
for observer status in the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Measures (SPS) of the World Trade Organization with a view to
enhancing the exchange of information on deliberations and recent
development in the respective bodies of relevance to alien invasive
species;
(d)
Invites Parties and other Governments to take into
consideration, as appropriate, the risks associated with the
introduction, use and spread of invasive alien species during the
development, expansion and environmental review of international,
bilateral and regional arrangements such as trade arrangements,
where appropriate; and
(e)
Invites Parties and other Governments to improve
communication and cooperation between national environment, plant
protection, trade and other relevant authorities with a view to
increasing awareness on issues related to the prevention and
management of risks from potentially invasive alien species and
ensuring consistency of national policies and
programmes;
6.
Invites relevant Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity and other Governments, as well as national, regional and
international organizations to: [53]/
(a) Improve
the coordination of regional measures to address transboundary
issues through the development and implementation of regional
standards, regional support for risk analysis and regional
cooperation mechanisms;
(b) Support
national and regional decision-making and rapid response through
the further development of risk analysis which include
environmental risk assessment, as well as alert lists, diagnostic
tools and capacity development;
(c)
Incorporate invasive alien species considerations, including
monitoring and reporting and notification of new threats, into
regional agreements and other instruments, and make information on
invasive alien species status and trends available through the
clearing-house mechanism and other relevant regional information
systems;
(d)
Allocate, as appropriate, adequate financial resources to
developing countries, in particular the least develop countries and
small island developing States among them, and countries with
economies in transition, and to build capacity for effective
mitigation, border control and quarantine measures with a view to
improve synergies with policies relating to trade, food security,
human health and environmental protection, scientific research and
exchange of information;
(e)
Strengthen, as appropriate the cooperation between biodiversity,
agriculture, forestry, land and water management agencies in the
application of risk analysis standards and guidance;
(f) Consider
the introduction of positive incentive measures for the prevention,
mitigation, eradication or control of invasive alien species and
the use of native species taking into consideration effectiveness
in control and impact on the other native species in land and water
management and other programmes;
(g)
Proactively engage relevant stakeholders and indigenous and local
communities in the eradication, the prevention of introductions,
and mitigation of impacts of invasive alien species, including by
awareness-raising and training as well as through the design and
implementation of appropriate incentive measures;
7
Notes that specific gaps in the international regulatory
frameworks at global, regional and national levels persist, notably
in relation to species that are invasive, but do not qualify as
plant pests under the regulations of the IPPC and other
international agreements or animal diseases under the regulations
of the Office international des épizooties and other
international agreements with regard to the following potential
pathways:
(a) The use
of non-native organisms in aquaculture and the restocking of marine
and inland water systems for commercial and recreational fisheries
taking into account contributions of national codes, and voluntary
international efforts such as Codes of Practice on the
Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms developed by the
International Council for the Exploration of the Seas and the FAO
Code of Conduct on Responsible Fisheries;
(b)
Unintentional or opportunistic introductions (e.g.,
"hitchhiker organisms"), including through
hull-fouling, packaging material, import consignments, vehicular
transport and other means;
(c)
Unintentional introductions of invasive alien species through
international assistance and humanitarian programmes, tourism,
military, scientific research, cultural and other
activities;
(d)
Intentional introductions of alien species for non-food purposes,
including certain aspects of horticulture and trade in pets and
aquarium species;
(e)
Intentional introduction of alien species, as biocontrol agents for
control or eradication of invasive alien species, pests or
weeds;
(f)
Transnational and national ex situ breeding projects with
alien species as sources for intentional or unintentional
introduction;
(g)
Intentional introduction of invasive alien species through
international assistance programmes, including conservation and
development projects and other activities;
(h)
Intentional introduction of potentially invasive alien species
through international incentives schemes;
(i)
Introduction of alien species through aquaculture escapes, bait and
pet releases, water transfer schemes.
8.
Notes that there is potential for the application of
existing methodologies for risk assessment and risk analysis,
including those established in the contexts of plant and animal
health, to a wider range of issues related to invasive alien
species;
9.
Requests the
Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice
to establish an ad hoc technical expert group to address gaps and
inconsistencies in the international regulatory frameworks at
global, and regional levels, in particular the specific gaps
identified in paragraph 7 above, and, on the basis of the work of
the expert group, to make recommendations to Subsidiary Body of the
Scientific Technical and Technological Advice prior to the ninth
meeting of the Conference of the Parties for the full and effective
implementation of Article 8(h) of the Convention, and further be
considered by the Conference of the Parties. The expert group
should:
(a) Further
clarify the gaps and inconsistencies in the international
regulatory framework that are significantly hindering
countries' efforts to manage threats arising from the
introduction, establishment and spread from invasive alien species,
focusing this analysis on the known major pathways for the spread
of invasive alien species, and taking into account past efforts of
relevant organizations and initiatives that have considered the
issue;
(b) Develop
practical options on how to address these gaps and inconsistencies,
where possible within the context of existing international
frameworks including identifying, if appropriate, those gaps which
should be addressed at the national level, in order to achieve the
full and effective implementation of Article 8(h), taking into
account the costs/benefits of options for addressing the gaps and
inconsistencies and the need for appropriate capacity-building at
the national and regional level, to support this work;
(c) Also, in the event
that it identifies the potential need for standards or other
measures, identify the appropriate standard-making authority, if
any, or other appropriate options, so that the Conference of the
Parties can consider referring the issue to the appropriate
standard-making authority and/or any other course of action that it
considers appropriate;
10.
Welcomes the generous offer made by the Government of New
Zealand to fund andthe ad hoc technical expert
group referred to in paragraph 9 above;
11.
Requests the Executive Secretary together with the Global
Invasive Species Programme, and its participating organizations,
and with other relevant organizations to address the priorities for
practical actions identified in the decisions of the Conference of
the Parties;
12.
Requests the Executive Secretary to facilitate the
development of practical processes to allow Parties to share best
practice and lessons learned, and to cooperate in the development
of new technology, scientific understanding and best practice;
and
13.
Invites funding institutions and development agencies to
provide financial support to developing countries, in particular
the least develop countries and small island developing States
among them, and countries with economies in transition, to assist
in the improved prevention, rapid response and management measures
to address threats of alien invasive species.
[53]/
Implementation of this paragraph should not
promote incentives that negatively affect the biodiversity of other
countries.
