Managing invasive species in selected forest ecosystems of Southeast Asia

So what's the problem?

Invasive alien species (IAS) are, after habitat destruction, the second biggest threat to biodiversity worldwide.

Invasive alien species are significantly affecting local and global biodiversity in Southeast Asia, invading and hreatening forest habitats and the species that live in them. They are also indirectly affecting the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on forests for food, commodities and energy security. Countries in the region recognize the need to implement Article 8 (h) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to mitigate the threats posed by IAS.

What is this project doing?

Responding to the need for additional action against invasive species, CABI and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with a host of partners, have developed a project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The overall goal is to conserve globally important forests, species and genetic diversity in the region, with the initial aim of enhancing the capacity of four countries – Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam – to manage their invasive alien species. Focusing particularly on forest ecosystems, the project will strengthen existing national frameworks to revent and manage IAS. We will achieve this by establishing national policy and institutional frameworks, developing mechanisms for risk analysis, early detection and rapid response mechanisms, and cost-recovery systems to finance IAS activities.

We plan to increase regional co-operation and create awareness of the threats posed by IAS. Building
capacity within the region will be an important component of this, and will contribute to the sustainability of all
interventions during this project.

Overall, the project will:

• establish national policy and institutional frameworks
• build regional co-operation in Southeast Asia
• build national capacity and strengthen institutional support
• undertake national pilot work to prevent, control and manage priority forest IAS
• carry out national information and awareness programmes
• monitor and evaluate pests

There are five pilot projects across the four partner countries, addressing the management of invasive plants in protected and production forests.

Results so far

A successful inception meeting has been held with the stakeholders and the project has been launched in Indonesia. The other countries will follow as soon as the necessary administrative protocols have been completed.

Work plans and activities, including those for the five project sites, have been finalized between CABI and the project countries. Work within the countries to implement the various components is already underway.

Participants, supported by funds provided through UNEP from the Satogaeri Foundation of Japan, have undergone a week-long training course on forest restoration provided by the Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU) at Chiangmai University.

Project Manager

Project Team

Related links

www.gefforestinvasivessea.org/