Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
h e 8
th
Conference of Parties (2006) adopted
Decision VIII/27 which focused
on further consideration of gaps and inconsistencies in the international regula-
tory framework on IAS and which notes that actions to address IAS need to be
taken at regional as well as other levels, and the importance of consistency among
actions and eff orts at the various levels. It encourages the development of regional
guidance to address particular gaps in the international regulatory framework; and
procedures and/or controls to ensure that cross-border impacts of potential IAS are
considered as part of national and regional decision-making processes.
IAS have been formally designated as a 'cross cutting' issue, to be taken into
account within the CBD's programme of work. Geographically and evolutionarily
isolated ecosystems, including islands, were identifi ed as needing special atten-
tion because of their vulnerability to biological invasion. Not surprisingly, the IAS
issue features extensively in the work programme on islands biodiversity (Decision
VIII/1). However, IAS provisions also appear to various degrees in the CBD work
programmes on marine and coastal biological diversity (Decision VII/5); bio-
logical diversity of inland water ecosystems (Decision VII/4); dry and sub-hu-
mid lands (Decision VII/2 and VIII/2); mountain biological diversity (Decision
VII/27); forest biological diversity (Decision VI/22); and agricultural biological
diversity (Decision VI/5). In addition, IAS have been addressed in CBD cross-
cutting programmes, such as the Global Taxonomy Initiative (Decision VIII/3)
and Protected Areas (Decision VII/28) and they also feature in the 2010 target
indicators: 'Trends in invasive alien species' is one of the Provisional Indicators for
Assessing Progress towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target
1
. IAS are also formally
addressed through the Global Strategy on Plant Conservation (COP Decision
VI/9 and VII/10). Further details can be found by accessing
http://www.cbd.int/
The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovern-
mental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international
cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. IAS
in coastal and inland wetlands were addressed by the Conference of the Parties
to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in November 2002. Resolution VIII/18
(Invasive Species and Wetlands) urges Ramsar Parties:
•
To address the problems posed by invasive species in wetland ecosystems in a
decisive and holistic manner.
To undertake risk assessments of alien species which may pose a threat to the
•
ecological character of wetlands.
To identify the presence of IAS in Ramsar sites and other wetlands in their
•
territory, the threats they pose to the ecological character of these wetlands,
1
2010 Biodiversity target: to achieve by 2010 a signifi cant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss
at the global, regional, and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefi t of all life
on Earth
