Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP)

Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) is a partnership programme and has four founding members: CAB International, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), The Nature Conservancy, and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). The secretariat is based in Nairobi, Kenya, since 2007. The mission of the Global Invasive Species Programme is to "conserve biodiversity and sustain human livelihoods by minimizing the spread and deleterious impacts of invasive alien species".

Invasive alien species (IAS) have been identified as one of the main threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, and they seriously threaten the livelihoods of impoverished communities and impede the development of national economies in many developing countries, not least in Africa (e.g. Nile Perch disaster in Lake Victoria, water hyacinth problems etc). A Global Strategy on Invasive Species, has been published by GISP (in 2001), that has been endorsed by the 6th Conference of the Parties (COP), 2002, to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

SwedBio supports the programme " Implementing the Global Strategy on Invasive Species", during the period January 2007- December 2008. This programme is aimed at implementing the Global Strategy on Invasive Species and the objectives of the programme include the building of capacity, especially in developing countries, to prevent and manage IAS (invasive alien species), the raising of awareness of the impacts of IAS to empower communities to participate in decision-making concerning the introduction and management of IAS, and the promotion of global co-operation in the prevention and management of IAS.

The programme includes a range of specific activities:

• A GEF-UNEP-GISP Project: "Building Capacity and Raising Awareness for Invasive Species Prevention and Management" (carried out in Chile, Costa Rica, Senegal, Tanzania and Vietnam).
• Training courses and technical support for the UNEP Regional Seas Programme.
• Technical support to a regional African network on IAS.
• Assessment of the impact of relevant trade agreements within Africa and its trading partners.
• Development of best practice manuals.
• Development of an Invasive Species Indicator for the 2010 Biodiversity Target.
• Implementation of Target 10 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.
• Assessment of the economic impacts of IAS.
• The promotion of international cooperation through a Joint Global Work Programme.
• Communications and Information Sharing.

Selected Documents from GISP:

•  Global Invasive Species Programme: Strategic Plan 2006-2010