The Pacific Invasives Initiative (PII) organized an intensive training course to strengthen the capacity of Pacific countries to combat invasive species threats.
David Sheppard, Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), said invasives "are causing an extreme loss of species and for small island nations" and stressed the need to act quickly.
16 May 2012: The Pacific Invasives Initiative (PII) has developed an intensive training course to support Pacific countries in managing the threat of invasive species. Countries with invasive species projects under the Global Environment Facility’s Pacific Alliance for Sustainability Program (GEF-PAS) are eligible for the training.
The course is taking place from 15-25 May 2012, in Apia, Samoa. It aims to help participants select invasive plants for urgent action, develop and implement management projects for these priority plants and evaluate outcomes. PII worked with Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the New Zealand Department of Conservation and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) to develop and deliver the course.
Invasive plants pose threats to native biodiversity as well as to agricultural species in Pacific countries, with consequences for food and economic security. David Sheppard, Director-General of SPREP, said invasives “are causing an extreme loss of species and for small island nations” and stressed the need to act quickly. [SPREP Press Release] [Pacific Invasives Initiative Website]