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Decision COP VI/23
UNEP/CBD/COP/DEC/VI/23

Alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species

The Conference of the Parties

I.STATUS AND TRENDS

Informational
1.Notes the report on the status, impacts and trends of alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats and species;

II. GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 8(h) 

Recognizing that invasive alien species represent one of the primary threats to biodiversity, especially in geographically and evolutionary isolated ecosystems, such as small island developing States, and that risks may be increasing due to increased global trade, transport, tourism and climate change,
Reaffirming that full and effective implementation of Article 8(h) is a priority,
Informational
2.Notes the consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice of the scientific and technical matters relevant to the Guiding Principles;
Informational
3.Notes that some non-scientific and technical matters have been identified for its consideration along with options for addressing those matters;
Operational Active
4.Having considered these options, adopts the Guiding Principles annexed to the present decision;
Operational Active Parties Other Government(s) Relevant organizations
5.Urges Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to promote and implement the Guiding Principles;

III. RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

Acknowledging the contribution to the implementation of Article 8(h) of existing international instruments, such as the International Plant Protection Convention, and relevant international organizations such as the Office International des Epizooties, the regional plant protection organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, the World Health Organization and other international organizations that develop relevant standards and agreements,
Noting, however, in the light of the review of the efficiency and efficacy of existing legal instruments applicable to invasive alien species,  / that there are certain gaps and inconsistencies in the international regulatory framework from the perspective of the threats of invasive alien species to biological diversity,
Operational Active Parties Other Government(s)
6.Recommends that Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and other Governments, as appropriate, consider ratifying the revised International Plant Protection Convention, and calls on Parties, Governments, and relevant organizations to actively work to enhance the implementation of the International Plant Protection Convention; 
Operational Active Implemented OTHERS Government(s) Relevant organizations
7.Urges the International Maritime Organization to complete the preparation of an international instrument to address the environmental damage caused by the introduction of harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water and to develop as a matter or urgency, mechanisms to minimize hull-fouling as an invasion pathway, and calls on Governments and relevant organizations to urgently act to ensure full implementation; 
Operational Active OTHERS
8.Invites the International Plant Protection Convention, the Office International des Epizooties, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, the World Health Organization and other relevant international instruments and organizations, as they elaborate further standards and agreements, or revise existing standards and agreements, including for risk assessment/analysis, to consider incorporating criteria related to the threats to biological diversity posed by invasive alien species; and invites further such instruments and organizations to report on any such ongoing, planned, or potential initiatives;  
Operational Superseded Retired SBSTTA
9.Requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and other international organizations such as the Global Invasive Species Programme to identify and explore, in light of the inter-sessional work referred to in recommendation VI/4 A of the Subsidiary Body, further specific gaps and inconsistencies in the international regulatory framework (including binding and non-binding instruments as well as instruments at the regional level and standards) from a technical perspective of the threats of invasive alien species to biological diversity, including consideration of various pathways for the transmission of invasive alien species, and to report back to the Conference of the Parties at its seventh meeting, taking into account further relevant information arising from the implementation of the present decision;

IV. OTHER OPTIONS

Reaffirming the importance of national and regional invasive alien species strategies and action plans, and of international collaboration to address the threats to biodiversity of invasive alien species and the need for funding as a priority to implement existing strategies,
Noting the range of measures  / and the need to strengthen national capacities and international collaboration,

A. National invasive alien species strategies and action plans

Operational Active Parties Other Government(s)
10.Urges Parties and other Governments, in implementing the Guiding Principles, and when developing, revising and implementing national biodiversity strategies and action plans to address the threats posed by invasive alien species, to: 
(a)Identify national needs and priorities; 
(b)Create mechanisms to coordinate national programmes;
(c)Review, in the light of the Guiding Principles, relevant policies, legislation and institutions to identify gaps, inconsistencies and conflicts, and, as appropriate, adjust or develop policies, legislation and institutions;
(d)Enhance cooperation between the various sectors, including the private sector that might provide pathways or vectors for the unintended transfer of invasive alien species, in order to improve prevention, early detection, eradication and/or control of invasive alien species, and in particular, ensure communication between focal points of respective relevant international instruments;
(e)Promote awareness of the threats to biological diversity and related ecosystem goods and services posed by invasive alien species and of the means to address such threats, among policy makers at all levels of government, and in the private sector; quarantine, customs and other border officials; and the general public;
(f)Facilitate the involvement of all stakeholder groups, including in particular indigenous and local communities, and the private sector, as well as all levels of government, in national invasive alien species strategies and action plans, and in decisions related to the use of alien species that may be invasive; 
(g)Collaborate with trading partners and neighbouring countries, regionally, and with other countries, as appropriate, in order to address threats of invasive alien species to biological diversity in ecosystems that cross international boundaries, to migratory species, and to address matters of common interest;
Operational Active OTHERS
11.Urges existing regional organizations and networks to work cooperatively to actively support the development and implementation of invasive alien species strategies and action plans, and to develop regional strategies where appropriate;
Operational Active Parties Other Government(s)
12.Encourages Parties and other Governments, in undertaking this work and, in particular, when developing priority actions, to consider the need to:
(a)Develop capacity to use risk assessment/analysis to address threats of invasive alien species to biological diversity, and incorporate such methodologies in environmental impact assessments, and strategic environmental assessments, as appropriate and relevant;
(b)Develop financial measures, and other policies and tools, to promote activities to reduce the threat of invasive alien species;
(c)When necessary, develop recommendations and strategies to take account of effects of alien species on populations and naturally occurring genetic diversity;
(d)Incorporate invasive alien species considerations into national biodiversity strategies and action plans and into sectoral and cross-sectoral policies, strategies and plans, taking into account the ecosystem approach, and  in order to ensure full implementation of the national invasive alien species strategies and action plans as called for in paragraph 6 of decision V/8 of the Conference of the Parties;
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
13.Notes the technical information developed by the Executive Secretary, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and the Global Invasive Species Programme and commends this information to Parties for use in national implementation of Article 8(h) and requests the Executive Secretary to ensure that the technical information developed within the Convention on Biological Diversity is readily available to Parties in an appropriate form, including through technical publications and the clearing-house mechanism;
Operational Active OTHERS
14.Urges the Global Invasive Species Programme and other relevant organizations to evaluate known and potential pathways for the introduction of invasive alien species and identify opportunities to minimize incursions and manage risks, and:
(a) Provide advice to Governments and organizations on actions to be taken at national and regional levels; and 
(b) Provide recommendations to the Conference of the Parties at its seventh meeting on actions to be taken at the international level;

B. International cooperation

Operational Active Parties Government(s) OTHERS
15.Urges Parties, Governments, multilateral organizations and other relevant bodies to consider the potential effects of global change on the risk of invasive alien species to biodiversity, and related ecosystem goods and services and, in particular:
Operational Active OTHERS
(a)Invites the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to consider this matter when it considers measures for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change in particular with respect to the lifestyles of indigenous and local communities;  
Operational Active World Trade Organization
(b)Invites the World Trade Organization, through its Committee on Trade and the Environment, to take this matter into account when considering the impacts of trade and trade liberalization;
Operational Active Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations OTHERS United Nations Environment Programme
(c)Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Bank and other development agencies to take this matter into account when considering the impacts of land-use change, agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, health and development policies and activities;
Operational Active OTHERS Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Convention on Wetlands Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
16.Invites the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971), the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the World Heritage Convention, and the Man and the Biosphere Programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in collaboration with relevant organizations, to promote further the implementation of Article 8(h) within their mandates, through, inter alia, the development of guidance, best practices and pilot projects that address the threats of invasive alien species to particular sites or habitats, including means to enhance the capacity of ecosystems to resist or recover from alien species invasions;
Operational Active International organizations
17.Invites international organizations to develop financial and other measures for the promotion of activities aiming to reduce the harmful effects of invasive alien species;
18.Acknowledges the contribution of the Global Invasive Species Programme to the sixth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, particularly the provision of technical advice and therefore:
Informational
(a) Welcomes phase II of the Global Invasive Species Programme and urges Parties, countries and other organizations to support the work of the Global Invasive Species Programme to minimize the spread and impact of invasive alien species, and consider the Global Strategy on Invasive Alien Species when developing national plans and regional strategies;
Operational Active
(b) Recommends continuing cooperation with the Global Invasive Species Programme and requests the Executive Secretary to explore the development of arrangements for this further cooperation;
Operational Active Global Environment Facility Parties Government(s) Relevant organizations
19.Endorses the international cooperative initiative on invasive alien species on islands, developed by the Government of the New Zealand, the Invasive Species Specialist Group, and the Global Invasive Species Programme, and calls on the Global Environment Facility, Parties, Governments and relevant organizations to support and participate in these initiatives;
Operational Active Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Convention on Wetlands OTHERS
20.Invites the International Maritime Organization, the Global Invasive Species Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) to work together to develop an international cooperative initiative to address impediments to the management of marine alien species, particularly to address technical problems related to the identification and control of marine invasions;
Informational
21.Welcomes the initiative of the Council of Europe in the framework of the Bern Convention to help the implementation of Article 8(h), including the development of a European Strategy on Invasive Alien Species;
Informational
22.Also welcomes the “I3N” (Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN) Invasives Information Network) initiative on invasive alien species, and calls on the Global Environment Facility, Parties, Governments and relevant organizations to support and participate in these initiatives;
Informational
23.Welcomes the initiative of the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures and the secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention to develop closer relationships to the Convention on Biological Diversity and its work;

C. Assessment, information and tools

Operational Active Parties Government(s) Relevant organizations
24.Urges Parties, Governments and relevant organizations, at the appropriate level, with the support of relevant international organizations to promote and carry out, as appropriate, research and assessments on:
(a)The characteristics of invasive species  and the vulnerability of ecosystems and habitats to invasion by alien species, and the impact of climate change on these parameters; 
(b)The impact of alien species on biological diversity;
(c)Analysis of the importance of various pathways for the introduction of invasive alien species; 
(d)The socio-economic implications of invasive alien species particularly the implications for indigenous and local communities;
(e)The development of environmentally benign methods to control and eradicate invasive alien species, including measures for use in quarantine and to control fouling of ship hulls;
(f)The costs and benefits of the use of biocontrol agents to control and eradicate invasive alien species;
(g)Means to enhance the capacity of ecosystems to resist or recover from alien species invasions;
(h)Priorities for taxonomic work through, inter alia, the Global Taxonomy Initiative; 
(i)Criteria for assessing risks from introduction of alien species to biological diversity at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels;
(j)The use of the traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities in the development and implementation of measures to address invasive alien species, in accordance with Article 8(j) of the Convention;
Operational Active
25.Decides that the clearing-house mechanism will be used to facilitate scientific and technical cooperation on the topics listed under paragraph 24 above, in order to enhance the ability of the clearing-house mechanism to promote and facilitate scientific and technical cooperation, and  welcomes the Global Invasive Species Programme as an international thematic focal point for alien species under the clearing-house mechanism, and calls on Parties, countries and relevant organizations to contribute to the creation and maintenance of the global information network, in particular to:
(a)Ensure effective international cooperation and expertise sharing;
(b)Provide information to assist countries to perform effective risk analysis;
(c)Provide information on potential pathway of alien invasive species; and
(d)Provide support for management and control efforts, particularly for locating technical support for rapid response activities;
26.Requests the Executive Secretary in cooperation with the Global Invasive Species Programme and other relevant organizations to:
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(a)Compile information on topics listed in paragraph 24 above, in collaboration with relevant organizations;
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(b)Identify the key scientific, technical and public awareness impediments to implementation of priority actions at the national and regional levels;
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(c)Develop, in partnership with relevant Parties, countries and relevant organizations, solutions to those impediments;
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(d)Disseminate those solutions to Parties and regional organizations; and
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(e)Develop a joint programme of work through the Global Invasive Species Programme partnership network among the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971), the International Maritime Organization, the International Plant Protection Convention and other relevant bodies;
Operational Active Parties Government(s) Relevant organizations
27.Urges Parties, Governments and relevant organizations, at the appropriate level, to develop and make available technical tools and related information to support efforts for the prevention, early detection, monitoring, eradication and/or control of invasive alien species and to support public awareness raising and environmental education to the extent possible;
28.Requests the Executive Secretary, within the availability of resources and in collaboration with relevant organizations, to support the development and dissemination of technical tools and related information on the prevention, early detection, monitoring, eradication and/or control of invasive alien species through, inter alia:
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(a)Compilation and dissemination of case-studies submitted by Parties, other Governments and organizations, best practices and lessons learned, drawing upon, as appropriate, tools listed in information document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/6/INF/3 and the “Toolkit” compiled by the Global Invasive Species Programme;
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(b)Further compilation and preparation of anthologies of existing terminology used in international instruments relevant to invasive alien species, and to develop, and update as necessary, a non-legally binding list of terms most commonly used;
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(c)Compilation and making available lists of procedures for risk assessment/analysis and pathway analysis which may be relevant in assessing the risks of invasive alien species to biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems;
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(d)Identification and inventory of existing expertise relevant to the prevention, early detection and warning, eradication and/or control of invasive alien species, and restoration of invaded ecosystems and habitats, which may be made available to other countries, including the roster of experts for the Convention on Biological Diversity;
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(e)Development of databases and facilitated access to such information for all countries including repatriation of information to source countries, through, inter alia, the clearing house mechanism;
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(f)Development of systems for reporting new invasions of alien species and the spread of alien species into new areas;
Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
29.Requests the Executive Secretary to take appropriate actions to ensure that invasive alien species considerations are fully integrated into thematic work programmes of the Convention and when reporting on the thematic work programmes to report specifically on how the threats and impacts of invasive alien species will be addressed;
Informational
30.Notes that, in implementing this decision, Parties, Governments, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, the Executive Secretary and relevant organizations are referred to annex II of the report of the liaison group meeting on invasive alien species;  / 

V. ACTIVITIES AND CAPACITY BUILDING

Operational Active Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
31.Requests the Executive Secretary to explore means to facilitate capacity enhancement for eradication work on alien species on continents and islands;
Operational Retired Implemented Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
32.Given the constraints to implementation of Article 8(h) identified in the assessment of second national reports with respect to cross-cutting issues and urges the Executive Secretary to use the clearing-house mechanism to provide an on-line educational programme;
Operational Implemented Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
33.Requests the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with the Global Invasive Species Programme, the Global Environment Facility, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, to identify a mechanism(s) for providing Parties with access to financial support for rapidly responding to new incursions by alien species, and report to the Conference of the Parties at its seventh meeting on progress to establish that mechanism(s);
Operational Active OTHERS
34.Urges bilateral donors and other funding sources to provide, as an urgent priority funding for the development and implementation, at national and regional levels, of the invasive alien species strategies and action plans called for in paragraph 6 of decision V/8 and with a particular priority for those strategies and actions related to geographically and evolutionarily isolated ecosystems, and to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, paying particular attention to the needs of the least developed countries and small island developing States, including needs related to capacity-building.
Body
Conference of the Parties (COP)

Meeting
COP-06
Sixth Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
7 - 19 April, 2002
The Hague, Netherlands (Kingdom of the)

Decision document
VI/23
Alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species
Related documents
UNEP/CBD/COP/8/INF/2
Review and Retirement of the Decisions of the Conference of the Parties: Proposals by the Executive Secretary pursuant to decision VII/33 on Operations of the Convention
Related decisions / recommendations
VII/13 para 7
Alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species (Article 8 (h))
VII/13 para 9
Alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species (Article 8 (h))
X/14 para 3
Retirement of decisions
SBSTTA-VI/4
Alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species