To facilitate discussions under this thread, Participants are invited to consider the following guiding questions:

1. In terms of horizon scanning, are you aware of relevant publications and initiatives in the field of emerging infectious diseases that are relevant for monitoring and managing IAS?

2. Please share new information on the relationship of infectious diseases and invasive alien species, and if possible, suggest how, a horizon scanning process in line with the objectives of the CBD could be useful to prevent risks for biodiversity, animal, plant and human health.

Dear Secretariats,
We are writing on the behalf of Nepal indigenous Nationalities |Preservation Association NINPA. We we are working on this and researching on this fields. 
In this context of Nepalese indigenous perspectives, it is important to explore relevant publications and initiatives on emerging infectious diseases and their connection to invasive alien species. This includes seeking information on local research, community-led initiatives, and traditional knowledge systems that highlight the interrelationships between infectious diseases and invasive species.

Understanding the relationship between  infectious diseases and invasive alien species is crucial for protecting biodiversity, animal, and human health. A horizon scanning process aligned with the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) can be useful in preventing risks. By incorporating Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, and practices, the scanning process can identify emerging infectious diseases associated with invasive species and inform preventive measures. This can include early detection, community-based monitoring, adaptive management strategies, and collaborations between Indigenous communities, researchers, and relevant stakeholders. Ultimately, the aim is to safeguard the health of ecosystems, Indigenous communities, and the broader society.

Hello everyone, 

My name is Rachel Ariey-Jouglard, representing the Government of Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada). 

With regards to Horizon Scanning, we would like to share with you some experiences coming from specific departments within the Government of Canada. 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada:
Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Regional and International Economics team) recently updated the Screening-Level Socio-Economic Risk Assessment Guidelines for Aquatic Invasive Species. These guidelines, together with the Socioeconomic Risk Assessment Guidelines for Aquatic Invasive Species  and Framework for Cost-Benefit Analysis of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Regulations, provides a complete set of guidance for economists to undertake socio-economic risk assessments that are aligned with the scope of the biological risk assessments and meet the needs of AIS management, including supporting the amendment process for amending the list species in the AISR. 

Public Health Agency of Canada:
Defining what invasive species are, the relationship of the terms “invasive species” and “emerging infectious diseases” and so what is in-scope versus out of scope can be problematic. For example, Lyme disease is emerging in Canada due to range spread of tick vector and pathogen from the US by migratory birds and terrestrial hosts (i.e. not by human agency) and although range spread of tick vector is facilitated by climate change (i.e. indirect human agency), the ticks and pathogens are not strictly “invasive species” even though they are invading and causing an “emerging infectious disease”. In contrast West Nile virus (WNV) was likely introduced to North America in an infected mosquito carried on a plane, so would qualify as both as an “invasive species” and an “emerging infectious disease”.

In our view, from a One Health perspective, invasive species that impact biodiversity always have the potential to impact human health via effects on the risk of infections coming from wildlife (zoonoses), or from other environmental sources (e.g. fungal pathogens such as Cryptococcus gattii). Impacts on human health need, therefore to be considered in risk assessments and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)-type prioritization exercises. In general reduction in vertebrate species richness increases risk, but if reductions in richness are accompanied by decreases in vertebrate species density disease risk may be reduced. However, subtle changes to densities of key disease reservoir or vector species (resident species impacted by invasive species, or the invasive species themselves) may have big impacts on disease risk.

We hope this information is useful,
Thank you very much.

Good day

I am Livhuwani Nnzeru, from the Republic of South Africa, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Horizon scanning is the systematic search to identify potential threats, emerging issues and opportunities that can inform research and action. Early detection and eradication of invasive alien species are more cost-effective than managing well-established invasive species populations and their impacts. However, there is high uncertainty around which taxa are likely to become invasive in a given area. Horizon scanning that combines a data-driven approach with rapid risk assessment and consensus building among experts can help identify invasion threats to biodiversity and human health.

The issue of the horizon scanning should also take cognisance of capacity gap in developing countries and therefore there will be a need for capacity development on that area. Horizon scanning should be expanded or unpacked in the context of IAS and therefore we encourage parties to share their experiences on how they conduct their horizon scanning in this regard.

Thank you.

Dear colleagues,

My name is Roseli Pellens, I am a research scientist in macroecology working on Paris Museum of Natural History, and I am a National Focal Point for the SBSTTA and COP for France. Thank you very much for the rich communications in this forum.

In terms of horizon scanning, synergies with other drivers of biodiversity loss remain a central issue. As you know, so far much attention has been given to the fact that these drivers are promoting new conditions for the establishment of species out of their natural biogeographical range (as for example the strategies for managing IAS with the impacts of climate change in the Annex iii). However, little attention is given to the fact that global changes (particularly habitat destruction and fragmentation) are increasing the accessibility to new source pools promoting the rise of emergent alien species at a global scale. The study of Seebens at al 2018*, shows that the high proportion of emerging alien species in recent years is likely a consequence of an increased accessibility of candidate species pools in their native range. 
This result points to the need to strengthen research funding on new source pools created by global changes as a way to understand the reasons (biological, environmental and economic) and so to control the pathways of their introduction in new regions.

Yours sincerely,
Roseli Pellens

*Seebens, H., Blackburn, T. M., Dyer, E. E., Genovesi, P., Hulme, P. E., Jeschke, J. M., … Essl, F. (2018). Global rise in emerging alien species results from increased accessibility of new source pools. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115(10), E2264–E2273. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1719429115

Hi everyone,

I am Olaf Booy, Deputy Chief Non-native Species Officer for the UK Government. 

The following publications might be of interest:

Horizon scanning for invasive alien species with the potential to threaten biodiversity in Great Britain. Global change biology 20.12 (2014): 3859-3871. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gcb.12603#

Horizon scanning for potential invasive non‐native species across the United Kingdom Overseas Territories. Conservation Letters 16.1 (2023): e12928. https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/conl.12928

Pathogens co-transported with invasive non-native aquatic species: implications for risk analysis and legislation: https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/71358/

Evolutionary trait-based approaches for predicting future global impacts of plant pathogens in the genus Phytophthora: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2664.13820

The role of invasive alien species in the emergence and spread of zoonoses: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10530-022-02978-1

A One Health Ecosystem Approach for Understanding and Mitigating Spill-Over of Tick-Borne Diseases in India’s Degraded Forests:  https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.1079/onehealthcases.2023.0011

Post COVID-19: a solution scan of options for preventing future zoonotic epidemics: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/brv.12774

Thanks,

Olaf

----------------Message on behalf of Tatiani Chapla- Brazil-------------

Dear colleagues,

My name is Tatiani Chapla, and I represent Brazil's Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. I would like to express my gratitude for my colleagues’ valuable contributions.

I would like to share some ongoing initiatives in Brazil related to monitoring and surveillance of emerging and known infectious diseases in line with the objectives of the CBD.

Firstly, the Wild Health Information System (Sistema de Informação em Saúde Silvestre - SISS-Geo) developed and implemented by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), associated with the Ministry of Health, exemplifies citizen science and community engagement in monitoring the health of wild animals across various environments. It facilitates the investigation of pathogen occurrences that can impact both humans and animals, aiding in zoonotic disease prevention, control, and biodiversity conservation. Additionally, SISS-Geo enables automatic generation of alerts for abnormal wild animal behavior and prediction models for identifying ecological opportunities for zoonotic outbreaks. For more information, visit: https://sissgeo.lncc.br/apresentacao.xhtml

Secondly, the Brazilian National Strategy on Invasive Alien Species, proposes the integration of actions to prevent and control invasive alien species that affect biodiversity and human health. The plan's Action 4.1.1.4, which aims to establish mechanisms for collecting samples and data in invasive alien species control and eradication efforts for health research, is particularly relevant in identifying and monitoring invasive alien species as vectors or hosts for pathogens or parasites. This has been well developed for wild boars (including feral pigs). The Integrated surveillance plan for swine diseases (Plano Integrado de Vigilância de Doenças dos Suínos) includes the sanitary monitoring of wild boar and feral pigs slaughtered for population control. It is an important official instrument that provides a mechanism for collecting samples for the sanitary monitoring of wild boar and feral pig populations, with the collaboration of controllers (hunters) of the species, appropriately trained by the Official Veterinary Service for this activity. The Integrated Surveillance Plan for Swine Diseases is available at: https://www.gov.br/agricultura/pt-br/assuntos/sanidade-animal-e-vegetal/saude-animal/programas-de-saude-animal /sanidade-suidea/PlanoIntegradodeVigilnciaPNSS.pdf. The content corresponding can be found on page 42, annex III, item 1, for the operationalization of serological surveillance of feral swine.

Another important advance refers to the development of the Wildlife disease notification network (rede de notificação de doenças da fauna selvagem), coordinated by the Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The Wild Fauna Disease Notification Network Manual - Fauna Network - is being prepared and provides the flow of information and a registration form for fauna disease notification data, which may support the collection of health data for teams working in animal invasive alien species control. The network focuses on notifiable pathogens and diseases to the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health), e.g., Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

I hope this information proves to be helpful.

Kind regards,

Tatiani