Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major, accelerating driver of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation across Africa, with growing implications for water security, food systems and rural livelihoods. The IUCN Save Our Species (SOS) African Wildlife Initiative (SOS AWI)—funded by the European Union—supports locally led, science-based action to reduce key biodiversity threats, including IAS, through practical management, restoration and capacity strengthening.

This publication focuses on ecosystem governance in the context of urban-rural linkages, analysing nine case studies to develop principles for ecosystem governance. Ecosystem governance utilises the ecosystem approach, adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity, which emphasises the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the importance of integrated management for the analysis of the case studies.