Target 4

Target 6: Reduce the Introduction of Invasive Alien Species by 50% and Minimize Their Impact

🤔 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐲?

🌿 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐈𝐀𝐒): Invasive alien species are alien species (introduced outside their natural ranges) that threaten biological diversity and ecosystem integrity. Species in all taxonomic groups and from all types of ecosystems have the potential to become invasive. While a small percentage of alien species become invasive, their negative impacts can be severe. These often go beyond environmental changes and affect economic activities, food security, health or social and cultural values. This target calls for these impacts to be eliminated, minimized, reduced or mitigated.

🌿 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬: Pathways, are how alien species are introduced to new environments. Depending on the ecosystem, there are likely to be several different pathways for the introduction of alien species. Pathways can be intentional (through different human-related activities) or accidental, such as escapes, contaminants or hitchhikers.

🌿 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬: Preventing the introduction of an invasive alien species is more cost effective then eradicating it once it has become established. Conducting a risk analysis prior to the introduction of an alien species as well as enhancing border controls and quarantine, early warning mechanisms, rapid response measures and management plans are the types of actions that could be taken to help prevent the establishment of alien species.

🌿 𝐄𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬: Once an invasive alien species has been identified and prioritized, and priority sites defined, countries will need to determine management actions. Whether an invasive alien species is eradicated or controlled will depend on several factors, including the species being considered, the ecosystem it is affecting, and the magnitude of its impacts, which requires a case-by-case process.

To learn more about all 23 Targets, please visit: https://www.cbd.int/gbf/targets