Invasive Alien Species highlighted at Pacific Islands Forum

Prime Minister Henry Puna highlighted the challenge of invasive alien species at the Pacific Islands Forum last month.

Invasive species are plants, animals and diseases that enter a country – often accidentally on ships, in agricultural goods, in people’s airline luggage – and then spread.

Once established they cause extensive ongoing problems.

A discussion paper and information booklet was produced to provide background for Pacific Leaders during their discussion of the issue at the Forum.

The Pacific Invasive Initiative provided the technical background for the publications.

In the Forum Communique, Leaders “reaffirmed the importance of dealing effectively with invasive species at both national and regional levels, and requested SPREP and SPC to increase their efforts in that regard, working with other actors as appropriate.”