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Project Overview

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 South East Asia, invading and threatening 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 prevent 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 South East 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.