17 May 2011: The Pacific Invasives Learning Network (PILN) is being featured at an Expert Meeting on South-South Cooperation. The meeting, which is taking place in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 18-20 May 2011, will seek to develop action plans for South-South cooperation on biodiversity preservation. The meeting has been organized in cooperation with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat.

PILN was initiated seven years ago, with endorsement by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), as a two-year “pilot project” network of national and local agencies, working on invasive species in 13 Pacific Island countries and territories.

The network is supported by eight environment organisations, which provide funding support and expert advice. The goal of PILN is to address the limited human capacity and skills, as well as the financial and geographic isolation, of the Pacific, among other issues. Currently, 15 PILN teams are working on priority invasive species issues on their islands, by engaging in strategic planning, eradication of pests from islands, and developing awareness information for their communities.

PILN is a partner of SPREP and a component of its work on invasive alien species. SPREP also serves as host of the PILN Secretariat. [SPREP News] [CBD meeting documents]