IPPC Secretariat participates in the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Invasive Alien Species in Montreal, Canada

4 December 2019, Montreal – The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) convened a meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Invasive Alien Species in Montreal, Canada from 2 to 4 December 2019. The AHTEG was established as an outcome of a decision at the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

According to the CBD Secretariat and the 2019 FAO report on the State of the world’s biodiversity for food and agriculture, invasive alien species are the leading cause of biodiversity loss worldwide, posing new threats to plant health, food security and safe trade. Stronger coordination with national plant protection organizations and national environment ministries, along with pest risk analysis, the establishment of quarantine pest lists, the implementation of justified phytosanitary measures, and better use of detection and rapid response systems, among others, can all help address the challenges posed by invasive alien species.

As a matter of fact, the discussions of the AHTEG focussed on the following areas: (a) Methods for cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis which best apply to the management of invasive alien species; (b) Methods, tools and measures for identification and minimization of additional risks associated with cross-border e-commerce in live organisms and the impacts thereof; (c) Methods, tools and strategies for the management of invasive alien species as it relates to prevention of potential risks arising from climate change and associated natural disasters and land use changes; (d) Risk analysis on the potential consequences of the introduction of invasive alien species on social, economic and cultural values; (e) Use of existing databases on invasive alien species and their impacts, to support risk communication.

Prior to the AHTEG meeting in Montreal, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity established and moderated an open online discussion forum from May through September 2019 to support the technical deliberations of the expert group. Building on the outcomes of the moderated online forum, and on the knowledge and experience of the participating experts, the AHTEG provided advice and developed elements of technical guidance and management measures for invasive alien species to facilitate achieving Aichi Biodiversity Target 9 and beyond.

Ms Barbara Peterson, Implementation Facilitation Officer with the IPPC Secretariat participated in both the on-line forum and the AHTEG meeting. During the AHTEG meeting in Montreal, Ms Peterson led a side session which provided an introduction to the application of the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and a discussion on the use of the IPPC, Standards and Recommendations to prevent the introduction of those invasive alien species that are harmful to plants.

The report from the AHTEG meeting will be made available as an information document to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at its twenty fourth meeting, to be held in Montreal, Canada, from 18 to 23 May 2020. Specific advice or elements of technical guidance arising from the AHTEG meeting will also be used to prepare a pre-session document for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at this meeting.