Invasive species

This booklet describes some of the plants present in and around Lake Tanganyika that can affect its environment and biodiversity. There are many such plants and there will be more, but this small volume is a starting handbook to invasive plant recognition, understanding and management. It contains a selection of species that can are known to be invasive in other situations and some that have already begun to show that tendency in Lake Tanganyika and/or its catchment.

The papers and abstracts in this volume are the outcome of the conference on Island Invasives: Eradication and Management, held at Tamaki Campus, University of Auckland, New Zealand. This conference had "islands" and "eradication of invasive species" as the focus, with emphasis on the work done and results or learning achieved.

Currently there is a deficit of information on the impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) within the community, key sector groups and governments of these countries. Most often, the problem is not recognised until the invasion becomes noticeable nor has ecological, economic or social consequences.

Like most natural ecosystems across Asia, the wetlands in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) are under threat from various human activities and from invasive alien species (IAS). Currently, major pathways for introduction of IAS in the region include aquaculture, horticultural and ornamental fish trades. Dams, urbanisation, expansion of agriculture, trans-boundary road development and other rapid development activities are exacerbating the spread of IAS.

The overall aim of this study is to bring together information on the subject of gender and invasive species, and thereby inform and strengthen future projects, activities and interventions in relation to invasive species prevention and management. The information will be of interest to all those involved in research, policy and practice of invasive species prevention and management.

The aim of this guideline is to aid maritime administrators, or other lead agencies working with ballast water management, to assess and quantify (as appropriate and possible) the potential economic consequences of unintended marine species introductions.

Marine News is the IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme e-newsletter. It includes news stories related to a diversity of marine-related topics such as climate change mitigation and adaptation; threatened marine species; energy and industry; marine protected areas; marine invasive species; fisheries and aquaculture; ocean governance and the Arctic. It also highlights recent marine expeditions and outstanding marine photographs.

This manual is the product of countries’ requests for assistance in strengthening and developing national regulatory frameworks related to marine Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in particular with respect to the transfer of potentially harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships’ ballast water and sediments. It is directed at national level practitioners as a hands-on guide to the development of national ballast water management strategies.