Invasive Alien Species

Forum opens on April 7th

We are pleased to welcome you to the open-ended Online Forum on invasive alien species. Rachel Ariey-Jouglard, from Canada and myself Paulina Stowhas Salinas, from Chile, will help moderate this online forum.

Under topic #2, we hope to get information from you on how we can work together to facilitate collaborative responses to biological invasions and to the threats and impacts of invasive alien species.

Furthermore, we seek your views and experiences with regards to how those collaborative approaches could be integrated with the One Health approach.

The Conference of the Parties recognized the interlinkages between biodiversity and health and the value of the One Health approach to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its targets (Decision COP15/4).  The One Health Approach is defined, in Decision COP15/29, as: “an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and inter-dependent. The approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems, while addressing the collective need for clean water, energy and air, safe and nutritious food, taking action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development.”

With this in mind, below are some questions to help stimulate the discussion. Please note that those questions are indicative and are meant to help support the discussion. Views and experiences on the topic that do not specifically answer the questions are also welcome.

We also invite you to ask questions and reply to others to enhance the discussion.

Guiding questions for topic 2

- How does your country or organization work to collaboratively respond to biological invasions and to the impacts of invasive alien species?

- Do you have proposals on how we can better use collaborative integrated approaches to address biological invasions and IAS?

- Do you have proposals or examples on how integrated approaches could be used for addressing biological invasions and invasive alien species? Are there collaborative responses in place in your country or region for addressing IAS? (e.g., incident command systems, MOUs between institutions, coordinating bodies, etc.)

- Are all IAS aspects covered by the different institutions (e.g., through integrated governance)? Has it been challenging to address IAS with sectors that do not have a clear attribution to address IAS (e.g., health, customs, transport, education etc.)?

- How does your Country collaborate with others to prevent or to respond to biological invasions?

- Do governmental or other agencies responsible for implementing the One Health Approach take into account IAS from a public health, animal and plant health perspective?

- Is there work on One Health and IAS, including collaborative approaches to address IAS that could benefit from guidance or other work to be developed under the CBD?

We would like to remind you to please provide your name and the name of your organization at the beginning of your interventions.

Thank you, and we look forward to this discussion.

Paulina and Rachel

NGANONO MAGONGO- MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SERVICE
1. How does your country or organization work to collaboratively respond to biological invasions and to the impacts of invasive alien species?-
Eswatini has put in place environmental Laws and policies that address the prevention, control, and management of IAS. These frameworks are aligned with international agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which Eswatini is a party to.

2. Do you have proposals on how we can better use collaborative integrated approaches to address biological invasions and IAS-

Eswatini can form a multi-sectoral taskforce bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Natural Resources- Water Affairs department, Academia, NGOs, and the private sector. This bodies would coordinate efforts, standardize approaches, and streamline communication between all actors. The country can also Intensify partnerships with Mozambique, South Africa, and regional institutions (like SADC).

3. Do you have proposals or examples on how integrated approaches could be used for addressing biological invasions and invasive alien species? Are there collaborative responses in place in your country or region for addressing IAS? (e.g., incident command systems, MOUs between institutions, coordinating bodies, etc.)

Yes, here’s are examples and proposals of how integrated approaches can be used to address biological invasions and invasive alien species (IAS), including collaborative frameworks and potential models:

i. Eswatini participates in SADC’s regional biosecurity efforts, particularly through:
 SADC Plant Protection Subcommittee and Livestock Technical Committee
 Shared surveillance information and quarantine protocols for pest outbreaks and plant diseases
 Cross-border initiatives under transfrontier conservation areas like the Lubombo TFCA with Mozambique and South Africa.
ii. The Eswatini Environment Authority (EEA plays a central role in:
 Environmental permitting and regulation of species introduction
 Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) that include IAS risks
 Collaborating with the Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Affairs and Ministry of Public service.

4. Are all IAS aspects covered by the different institutions (e.g., through integrated governance)? Has it been challenging to address IAS with sectors that do not have a clear attribution to address IAS (e.g., health, customs, transport, education etc.)?
Yes it is, Forestry Department under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs (MoTEA) manages invasive plant species in protected and degraded areas. The Ministry of Agriculture addresses invasive pests (e.g. Armyworm) and animal diseases with cross-border potential.

Hello everyone, I'm Zhou Xin, a Ph.D. candidate at Nanjing Agricultural University (China), specializing in the distribution and invasion mechanisms of alien invasive plants. Here is the answer about "How does your country or organization work to collaboratively respond to biological invasions and to the impacts of invasive alien species?"
In China, the prevention and management of invasive alien plants involve multiple government agencies. According to the latest Measures on the Management of Invasive Alien Species and related regulations, the primary responsibilities are allocated as follows:

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Oversees invasive species management in agricultural systems, including maintaining agricultural invasive species lists, conducting risk assessments, monitoring, early warning, and control measures.

Forestry and Grassland Authorities: Manages invasive species in forest and grassland ecosystems, with responsibilities covering list formulation, risk assessment, monitoring, and implementation of control strategies.

Natural Resources Authorities: Participates in invasive species control related to land resource management.

Ecological Environment Authorities: Supervises invasive species in protected natural areas and ecologically sensitive regions, while contributing to nationwide control efforts.

Additionally, an inter-ministerial coordination mechanism has been established among these agencies to address major challenges and ensure effective collaboration. Customs authorities also play a critical role by enforcing port controls to prevent new invasions.

Collectively, these efforts form a comprehensive management framework, spanning from prevention at entry points to monitoring, early warning, and ecological restoration, creating a multi-layered defense system against invasive plants.

Hello, I’m Halley Rose Meslin, I work at the nature conservation charity Fauna & Flora as a Business & Nature Technical Officer and am based in Cambridge, UK. Fauna & Flora, in partnership with IUCN, are launching the Invasive Species Collaborative Initiative that aims to raise business awareness about invasives species, accelerate the adoption of best practices for invasive species management, and facilitate the collaboration of businesses with local communities and other stakeholders across landscapes. We aim to engage businesses, governments, and IPLCs through a series of sector roundtables in 2025 (with a focus on food & agriculture, extractives, tourism, transport, and finance), with insights from the roundtables helping to develop a business call to action report including a compelling business case, sector insights and opportunities, guidance and case studies. Following the roundtables, we will be identifying and supporting demonstration projects in landscapes and across value chains which will test new solutions and collaborations and provide data for further innovation. This will be supported through the development of the Invasive Alien Species Collaboration Fund to direct investment into impactful, scalable projects. Very interested to hear from others about examples of how they are working with businesses in their countries. To learn more or express interest in participating in this initiative, please contact: businessandnature@fauna-flora.org

Hello everyone , I am Nouraldin Shtaya , working Currently at Biodiversity department -Environment Quality Authority  (EQA ) - State of Palestine
- In Palestine works through cooperation among the relevant institutions, such as the Environment Quality Authority and  Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Customs Police, to primarily control the borders in areas under Palestinian authority ,this aims to prevent the smuggling of birds and animals that are either prohibited for trade or considered invasive alien species.
Efforts also include preventing cross-border transportation, as well as holding numerous training sessions and both in-person and online workshops to raise awareness about invasive alien species and their threat to biodiversity.
Additionally, civil society organizations also play an important role.

-The plan of Environment Quality Authority to Control pathways for the introduction of invasive alien species, preventing, or reducing their rate of introduction and establishment and control or eradicate IAS to eliminate or reduce their impacts, focusing on priority and potential IAS’s and priority sites
Adopting the national strategy on mitigating and combating invasive alien species and its action plans
Targets for Action: 2030: Adopt the plan and implement it resulting in halt of spread of most invasive animal and plant species; 2030: Reverse the trend of presence and spread of any IAS
Indicators: Reports by relevant authorities with documentation for meeting relevant outputs in the national plan
Responsibility: EQA, MOA,
Notes and explanations: Ensure implementation of the national strategy on invasive species
by relevant authorities including EQA, MOA (specifically in nurseries); IAS list should be adopted based on scientific data and updated regularly, the list should prioritize most dangerous species, each species should have specified combating methodologies; Setting strict laws regarding the entry of animals and plants into Palestine without the presence of
studies supporting the entry process..

-Yes, most of the institutions mentioned previously , whether governmental or non-governmental, have studied or addressed the issue of invasive alien species.There is cooperation among these institutions in spreading knowledge and raising awareness.
However, there is a challenge or obstacle related to the cost of control efforts. For example, Palestine and the surrounding region are facing several cases of dangerous invasive alien species.
Acridotheres tristis: The common myna or Indian myna , Cochineal Scale Insect Dactylopius spp  attached specially prickly pear Opuntia ficus indica  , (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and (Solanum elaeagnifolium)..... etc

- Palestine collaborates with regional and international partners to prevent and respond to biological invasions through several key mechanisms.
First, we actively participate in international conventions and agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which provides a framework for cooperation on the management of invasive alien species.
Additionally, our national institutions—such as the Environmental Quality Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture—work closely with counterparts in neighboring countries and relevant international organizations to share data, best practices, and early warning systems regarding invasive species.

Joint training programs, workshops, and regional forums are also held to build capacity and raise awareness among experts and stakeholders.
Moreover, cooperation at the border level helps in monitoring and controlling the movement of potentially invasive species, often in coordination with international customs and quarantine protocols.
Despite these efforts, the financial and technical challenges remain significant, and more support is needed to enhance cross-border coordination and implement effective long-term control strategies.

Hi Nganono! Thank you very much for this interesting response. The multi-sector task force with the represented ministries is very interesting. Regarding OneHealth, do you have an example you'd like to share with us (or we can review on a website or other) of how the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Environment have integrated the One Health approach into the multi-sector task force?

Hello Nouraldin,

Thank you very much for your response. Do you have any examples of the Ministry of Health's involvement in issues related to IAS? This could be with terrestrial IAS (agriculture and food safety, for example), aquatic IAS (water quality for drinking or irrigation), or marine IAS (fishing or safety).

Thank you!

Hello everyone.

From a Canadian perspective, enhancing collaboration amongst federal ministries, as well as with provinces and territories is important in addressing IAS. Canada also recognizes the importance of non-governmental actors in helping address this issue. To develop Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy (i.e., our NBSAP, which mirrors all KMGBF 23 target), we worked with over 20 federal departments, all provinces and territories. More than 7,500 Canadian individuals and organizations provided answers to a survey or provided written submissions to support the development of Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy.

At the federal structure, a committee focused on the development and implementation of the KMGBF and Canada’s NBSAP was struck. As such, all ministries involved in the implementation of the KMGBF are aware of each other’s work, including with regards to specific targets. This can help ensure that the approach to and the importance of implementing the KMGBF stays coherent.

With regards to IAS specifically, responsibilities for IAS management in Canada in shared with provinces and territories, underscoring why a whole-of-government approach to addressing T6 is important. For terrestrial species, provinces and territories are the main managers of IAS in Canada. For aquatic species, management is a shared responsibility with provincial and territorial partners. Provinces with fisheries management responsibilities are responsible for the implementation of the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations within their jurisdiction. Conservation officers from all provinces and territories are cross-designated to enforce the AIS Regulations. Most provinces and territories operate aquatic invasive species programs (and in some cases watercraft inspection programs) within their jurisdictions and collaborate with each other or other federal partners.

Implementation of Target 6 is supported by the federal committee and also relies on structures that existed prior to the KMGBF. For example, there are a few federal-provincial-territorial committees on different topics (e.g., IAS in general, aquatic invasive species, forest pests, use of pesticides). In some cases, for example with regards to legislation on addressing aquatic invasive species, the regulatory listing of species is developed in collaboration with provinces and territories. There can also be collaboration between enforcement agencies on various species. The Canada Border Service Agency, for example, enforces many legislations administered by different departments. Overall, there is no one department that leads on all aspects of IAS managemenr or on all species. Collaboration is key however to learn from best practices. On aquatic invasive species, while there is no Incident Command per se, quick and effective collaboration with the US, federal enforcement agencies and with provinces and territories were set up when threats of biological invasions of zebra mussels were found.

There is also collaboration at the regional level with US and Mexico (e.g. Trilateral agreement, International Joint Commission, and knowledge-sharing opportunities like the North American Invasive Species Forum, which will be taking place virtually from May 13 to May 16 2025). Canada helps advance biological invasion prevention by collaborating on different international forum (e.g., CBD, International Plan Protection Convention, including the International Forest Quarantine Research Group, the International Maritime Organization, including the Ballast Water Convention).
The Government of Japan was and continues to be a leader with regards to IAS, having brought this issue within the G7. Thanks to their efforts, there is now greater collaboration, including through sharing of information and through work relationship, on the issue of IAS. Such work can be an example on how Target 6 implementation provides the opportunity to enhance relationships between countries.

With regards to One Health more specifically, Canada’s approach has been to look at the issue more specifically under Target 5. For example, the federal government and provinces and territories, as well as a non-governmental organization, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, worked collaboratively to develop the Pan-Canadian Approach to Wildlife Health. The challenge at the moment to implementation this approach is lack of funding.  However, there are a lot of synergies between both Targets as preventing biological invasions, including of pathogens, would support wildlife health. In fact, the Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health, adopted in Decision COP16/19 on Biodiversity and Health provides a list of « Actions to ensure biodiversity and health co-benefits, to be implemented taking the One Health and other holistic approaches into consideration”. These can be helpful when trying to frame IAS actions within the One Health approach. Future work from Parties and organizations on the linkages between IAS and One Health could be guided by the questions identified in this Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health.

Thanks to the new NBSAP that was developed following the adoption of the KMGBF, there is greater collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada, under Health Canada. The Agency’s mandate is to promote health, prevent and control chronic diseases and injuries, prevent and control infectious diseases, and prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. As such, they have promoted the development, uptake, and distribution of education and awareness tools and resources on emerging vector-borne diseases for target audiences, including children and caregivers, outdoor workers, people living in at-risk areas, and Indigenous communities to support early identification and prevention. To support the knowledge to help prevent future biological invasions impacting health, they also administer the Infectious Diseases and Climate Change Fund and have funded studies looking at the health impact of invasive mosquitoes for example.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which mandate includes food safety, animal health, plant health and international market access and is the lead in Canada under the International Plant Protection Convention, also applies a One Health Approach. In general, collaboration is a key component of the CFIA’s delivery of its mandates. Collaboration occurs on many aspects and with different parties at the domestic or international levels. This includes collaboration with, for example, border services agency, provincial partners, stakeholders, industry, academia and industry. Although aspects related the practical implementation to plant health remains to be developed, the CFIA is applying a One Health approach to many issues encompassed by its mandate in collaboration with its partners in Canada and abroad.

Link to the Canadian Approach to Wildlife Health add https://www.cwhc-rcsf.ca/docs/technical_reports/EN_PanCanadian%20Approach%20to%20Wildlife%20Health%20Final.pdf

Link to COP16/19 decision on Biodiversity and Health https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-16/cop-16-dec-19-en.pdf

Link to all CBD COP decisions on biodiversity and health: https://www.cbd.int/health/decisions.shtml

Link to Infectious Diseases and Climate Change Fund webpage:  https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/funding-opportunities/infectious-diseases-climate-change-fund.html