Samoa (Commonwealth Union) _ Invasive species pose a hazard to populations in the Pacific, harm local biodiversity and the ecosystem, and have a significant negative socioeconomic influence on local development. Invasive species are often regarded as the major cause of population decreases and species extinctions in island ecosystems. They also significantly harm human health.
SPREP Members who assembled in Samoa for the 31st SPREP Meeting of Officials supported the second edition of the Guiding Framework for Invasive Species Management in the Pacific in order to lessen the harmful effects of invasive species on Pacific populations.
The Guiding Framework is meant to assist anyone or any organization that is organizing and carrying out invasive species projects or programs on Pacific island groups. In order to do this, the document outlines the crucial elements of a thorough and efficient invasive species management program. The GEF 6 Regional Invasive Project (GEF6 RIP) — Strengthening national and regional capacities to decrease the impact of Invasive Alien Species on globally significant biodiversity in the Pacific — provided funding for the creation of the Guiding Framework.
The approval of the Guiding Framework for Invasive Species Management in the Pacific: Second Edition is crucial to efforts being made to counter the effects of invasive species on native plants, animals, and ecosystems, according to SPREP’s Invasive Species Adviser, David Moverley.
Because of their remoteness, Pacific islands are particularly susceptible to invasive species. The near-shore marine populations of the Pacific islands are vulnerable places and ecosystems, according to Moverley. Native species and communities on Pacific islands have not adapted to withstand the effects of invasive predators, herbivores, insects, plants, and illnesses. They are consequently especially susceptible to the spread of invading species populations and the harm they subsequently inflict, he continued.
Small island states frequently have few human, material, and financial resources available to prevent and respond to such threats, which exacerbates all these effects. Without the assistance offered by tools like the Guiding Framework, invasive species’ harmful effects will only worsen, resulting in a loss of biodiversity and ecological health.
In order to aid Pacific island nations and territories in the development of their fight against invasive species and to provide guidance to regional and international organizations, the Guiding Framework was created in cooperation with experts and those groups. The National Invasive Species Strategies and Action Plans (NISSAP) development and implementation process is guided by this framework, which offers a framework for developing, planning, and monitoring invasive species control, biosecurity, and management for the Pacific islands.
Taumeasina Island Resort in Samoa hosted the 31st SPREP Meeting of Officials and related events from September 4–8, 2023. SPREP@30th served as the theme for the meetings. SPREP’s 21 Pacific Island Member countries, 5 Metropolitan Member countries, and partners gathered for the meetings to debate organizational strategy and ratify the 2024–2025 work plan.
One of the meeting’s major environmental results was the approval of the Guiding Framework for Invasive Species Management in the Pacific: Second Edition. In order to help planners and practitioners adhere to accepted standard operating procedures, the Guiding Framework addresses invasive plants, animals, disease agents, and other organisms in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments. It is directly aligned with pertinent international conventions and standards.
The formal review group, SPREP Invasives Team, PRISMSS Partners, and other colleagues who represented numerous Pacific Island nations and territories as well as regional and international organizations active in the region all contributed to the creation of this document, according to Moverley. The Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme are all responsible for funding and carrying out the GEF 6 RIP.
