Factsheet - Indicators for the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

1. Indicator name

Number of countries adopting relevant regulations, processes and measures to reduce the impact of invasive alien species

2. Date of metadata update

2024-09-01 12:00:00 UTC

3. Goals and Targets addressed

3a. Goal

N/A

3b. Target

Binary indicator for Target 6. Eliminate, minimize, reduce and/or mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity and ecosystem services by identifying and managing pathways of the introduction of alien species, preventing the introduction and establishment of priority invasive alien species, reducing the rates of introduction and establishment of other known or potential invasive alien species by at least 50 per cent by 2030, and eradicating or controlling invasive alien species, especially in priority sites, such as islands.

4. Rationale

1. Invasive alien species are one of the main direct drivers of biodiversity loss. In some ecosystems, such as islands, invasive alien species (IAS) are the leading cause of biodiversity decline. Invasive alien species affect biodiversity by competing with native species for resources, by direct predation or by introducing pathogens. They also modify the composition and structure of ecosystems, reducing the services they provide. In addition to their environmental impacts, invasive alien species pose a threat to food security, human health and economic activities. Globalization and an associated increase in human-mediated activities, such as international transport, trade and tourism, have made the movement of species beyond natural bio-geographical barriers easier and quicker, by creating new introduction pathways. Due to the wide and crosscutting impacts of IAS, including environmental, economic, health, social and cultural impacts, it is necessary to strengthen collaboration across sectors and government agencies at all levels and areas to ensure that this threat is managed effectively.

2. Governments have an important role to play in setting the regulatory landscape to support institutions in reducing the impacts of IAS. Business as usual practices have led to a large number of species being introduced to habitats where they have had significant impact on local biodiversity. Regulations, such as those on ballast water emptying, and appropriate resources to enforce them have a proven effect on reducing the rates of IAS establishment. Specifically, this indicator reports on the number of countries that have adopted regulation, processes and measures, and allocated resources, to reduce the impact of IAS.

5. Definitions, concepts and classifications

5a. Definition

3. Impact of alien invasive species: Impacts are changes to nature, nature’s contributions to people and/or good quality of life. Impacts can be observed or unobserved. Generally, negative impacts become more apparent and problematic when invasive alien species are well established, widespread and present for a long time. Along with their adverse effects, some invasive alien species may have positive impacts providing benefits to some people.

4. Alien invasive species: An alien species whose introduction and/or spread threaten biological diversity.

5. Establishment: Production of a viable, self-sustaining population.

6. Control: Direct action(s) taken to reduce or suppress the distribution, abundance, spread and impacts of invasive alien species within a defined geographic area (FAO, 1995)

7. Eradicate: Eliminate/extirpate an invasive alien species from a defined geographic area even in the absence of all preventive measures obviating the necessity for further control measures (Dowdle, 1998). The time period after which an invasive alien species can be considered eradicated depends on the species and location.

5b. Method of computation

8. This indicator is a binary indicator and must be compiled from the answers to three questions:

(a) 6.1 Does your country have regulations and processes empowering relevant institutions to implement the measures necessary for a reduction of the introduction and impact of invasive alien species?

(b) 6.2 Does your country have measures in place for preventing the introduction and establishment of invasive alien species?

(c) 6.3 Does your country have measures in place for eradicating or controlling invasive alien species?

9. There are four possible answers to each question:

(a) No

(b) Under development

(c) Partially

(d) Fully

10. A “No” answer implies that Parties have not put in place any regulation nor processes to reduce the introduction and impact of IAS (6.1) nor measures to prevent the introduction and establishment of IAS (6.2) nor for eradicating and controlling IAS (6.3). Therefore, no regulations nor policy measures exist in the country for the specific requirements of each question in turn and none have been proposed.

11. An “Under development” answer implies a concerted effort at the national level to design and implement regulation on reduction of introduction and impacts (6.1), prevention of introduction and establishment (6.2) or eradication and control of IAS (6.3). For each of these items in turn, national governments must be in the design stage of such measures (e.g. a bill or measures have been proposed) but none of them have passed nor been implemented yet. The development of these measures must involve legal or governmental bodies with the authority to implement the proposed measures.

12. A “Partially” answer implies that only some of the elements in the question have been fulfilled. That is:

(a) regulation or processes have been put in place but not both (6.1)

(b) measures are in place to reduce introduction or impact of IAS but not both (6.1)

(c) measures are in place to prevent introduction or establishment of IAS but not both (6.2)

(d) measures are in place to eradicate or control some IAS (6.3)

13. If any one of the above has been put in place, then partial achievement has been reached. Additionally, in the case where a subnational authority may have put in place both of the measures listed in questions 6.1 or 6.2 or to eradicate or control all IAS (6.3) in its area of jurisdiction, Parties may also select “Partially” to represent the efforts being done in their country. In this case however, partial achievement of a question at the subnational level does not reach the threshold for Parties to select “Partially” and Parties should revert to the “Under development” answer.

14. A “Fully” answer implies that all the conditions outlined in “Partially” have been met. Namely, for 6.1 that both regulation and processes are in place to empower institutions in reducing both introduction and the impact of IAS and for 6.2 that measures are in place to prevent the introduction and establishment of IAS. For 6.3 measures are in place to control or eradicate all IAS of particular concern for the Party. If any one element is missing, then only partial achievement has been reached. For all questions, the regulations, processes and measures must be in place at the national level. All measures put in place by governments need to be resourced (financial and human) to count as “Fully”.

No