Phase I of the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) has been a collaboration between the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE), in collaboration with the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Center for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CAB International) with initial support from the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP. Initial financial support comes from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), UNEP, UNESCO, the Norwegian Government, NASA, ICSU, La Fondation Total, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

GISP is a component of DIVERSITAS, an international programme on biodiversity science.

Phase I Programme Leaders A group of dedicated experts participated in eleven specific components in collaborating with international teams to address invasive alien species (IAS). The results of this work will be disseminated via published reports, international meetings, and especially through a new network of information exchange and training to be developed as part of this project.

• Education 

• Human Dimensions

• Ecology of Invasives

• Early Warning Systems

• Economic Consequences

• Current Status & Assessment 

• Global Change and Invasives

• Legal and Institutional Frameworks 

• Assessment and Best Management Practices

• Pathways of Invasives/Vectors/Risk Assessment

A Practical, Comprehensive Strategy

At its second meeting (November 1995), the Conference of the Parties (COP) identified implementation of Article 8 of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) as a high priority and stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation for the implementation of this Article as well as the importance of exchange of relevant information and experience among all interested stakeholders on measures taken for its implementation (Decision II/7 of COP 2). At COP 3 in November, 1996, it was recommended that there be further compilation and dissemination of information on the implementation of Article 8, including work on invasive species. COP 3 specifically encouraged SCOPE and IUCN to develop a global strategy and action plan to deal with harmful invasive species.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognizes the importance of this global problem and calls on contracting Parties to "prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species whcih threaten ecosystems, habitats and species - Article 8(h).

This project, in its first phase, conducted reviews of our current knowledge base on the issue of invasive species and develop new tools and approaches to deal with the invasives problem both locally and globally. The products of the initial project will be protocols for control methods, a new easily accessible global data base on invasives, a document detailing the new strategy, a separate document on a summary of the program findings and recommendations for future action, and a popular book on the nature of the invasives problem and how society can address and solve this problem. The project results will assist implementation of Article 8(h) of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

It is clear that the ecological, economic, and human health consequences of invasives are staggering. The crisis must be addressed proactively in a holistic context that will provide a strong foundation for international protection from potentially harmful invasive species.

Past responses to invasives problems generally have been crisis-oriented and undertaken by scientists and government officials. This project began with an interdisciplinary, proactive and holistic approach to prevention and management. Economists, geographers, trade experts, and international environmental policy specialists-in addition to scientists, managers and government officials with expertise - have and continue to contribute to a practical, comprehensive strategy to turn the tide against harmful invasive species worldwide.

People worldwide are already witnessing the ruinous impacts of invasive pests: Phillipine rice farmers have lost nearly US$1 billion in crops to the invasive golden apple snail. Alien water weeds, like water hyacinth and water lettuce (Eichornia crassipes, Pistia spp.), are a global problem; Seven African nations alone spend an estimated US$20-50 million annually on their control (Kasulo, 2000). International trade has introduced the Asian tiger mosquito- which carries dengue fever- to the Americas and Africa, and has spread life-threatening E. coli 0157 bacteria in meat exports.

Agriculture, forestry, rangelands, and native ecosystems are being decimated by invasive plant and animal species. Invasive species are second only to habitat destruction as a major cause of extinction, and have been indentifed as the highest priority in island conservation management. Island ecosystems are particularly at risk as these highly endemic, insular ecosystems harbor much of the world's threatened biodiversity.