20 January 2016: The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has established an online forum to support the sharing of technical and scientific information and ideas to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 9 on invasive alien species (IAS).

The forum was established in accordance with decisions by the CBD Conference of the Parties calling for exchange of information on best practices, lessons learned and tools to address the threat of invasive alien species. Experts from CBD Parties and relevant organizations are encouraged to participate by submitting relevant technical information and decision support tools for the management of IAS.

It is recalled that Aichi target 9 calls for identifying and prioritizing, by 2020, invasive alien species and pathways, controlling or eradicating priority species and putting in place measures to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment. Furthermore, Sustainable Development Goal 15.8 calls for, by 2020, introducing measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species. [CBD Notification] [Online Forum on Invasive Alien Species]