Invasive Alien Species Toolkit for Target 6
In early 2025 the Convention on Biological Diversity published an Invasive Alien Species Toolkit for Target 6 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which was developed under the Secretariat of the CBD by IUCN and members of the SSC ISSG with valuable inputs from other members of the CBD’s Inter-Agency Liaison Group. The toolkit aims to support the development of actions at the national level to help achieve the different elements of Target 6, i.e. for identifying and managing pathways of introduction, preventing introduction and establishment of priority IAS, and eradicating and controlling IAS in priority sites. It sets out guidance on nine key areas (see Box below), with links to key resources, and a glossary. The Toolkit also sets out additional areas that should be considered when developing these actions, including on the need to take a whole-of-society approach, the contribution and rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, interactions with other drivers of biodiversity loss, biodiversity and health interlinkages (‘one health’), and the need for consistency with international agreements or instruments.
In addition, the Toolkit includes guidance on how to develop a National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan (NISSAP). A NISSAP is a formal strategic document that sets out the priority actions, along with timelines, responsibilities and budgetary needs, that need to be taken to address threats posed by IAS. However, the process of developing a NISSAP is as important as ensuring that the priority actions are contained within it. Therefore, the Toolkit sets out a strategic framework on how to develop a NISSAP, what actions can be included within it, and how to adapt implementation based on monitoring and evaluation.
IUCN and members of the SSC ISSG are now looking for opportunities to support countries in the application of the Toolkit in order to support progress towards Target 6 of the GBF.
The toolkit has been developed with the generous support from the Government of Japan through the Japan Biodiversity fund and the European Union.
Actions to meet Target 6 included in the toolkit guidance:
1. Baseline information needs and how to prioritise IAS, pathways of introduction, and sites;
2. How to develop pathway action plans;
3. The key elements of border security;
4. Surveillance for early detection
5. Rapid response capacity to eradicate new incursions.
6. Biosecurity legislation and policy
7. Considerations for selecting management measures
8. Monitoring
9. Policy and legislation for the management of IAS
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