Invasive species

Aquaculture is an important economic activity in coastal areas of many countries. It offers opportunities to alleviate poverty, boosts employment, helps community development, reduces overexploitation of natural coastal resources, and enhances food security. It is one of the fastest growing sectors within fisheries.

The Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) is a free source of information about invasive alien species. It covers all taxonomic groups from micro-organisms to animals and plants, in all ecosystems. The GISD aims to increase public awareness about introduced species that negatively impact biodiversity, and to facilitate effective prevention and management activities by providing easy access to authoritative invasive species information.

Biological diversity faces many threats throughout the world. One of the major threats to native biological diversity is caused by Invasive Alien Species (IAS) which can damage or replace native animal and plant populations, as well as the health of our ecosystems. The impacts of IAS are immense, insidious and usually irreversible. The scope and cost of biological alien invasives is global and enormous in ecological, environmental and economic terms.

Wetlands in Africa are increasingly being recognised as ecosystems of extreme importance to man and biodiversity. However, the management of these wetlands has been impacted by alien invasive species that specialize on aquatic (and semi-aquatic) systems. This booklet introduces alien wetland invaders by describing seven of the worst species already introduced to Africa and mentions several others that are potential threats.

This collection of 52 papers and 21 abstracts focuses on sharing available knowledge to combat the threat of invasive alien species. Turning the target_ide of biological invasion by eradicating invasive species can yield substantial benefits for biodiversity conservation. As more eradications are attempted worldwide, it is increasingly important that lessons are learned from each and every one of these attempts, whether successful or unsuccessful.

Wetlands in Africa are increasingly being recognised as ecosystems of extreme importance to man and biodiversity. However, the management of these wetlands has been impacted by alien invasive species that specialize on aquatic (and semi-aquatic) systems. This booklet introduces alien wetland invaders by describing seven of the worst species already introduced to Africa and mentions several others that are potential threats.