Rome, 5 March 2007 - Outbreaks of forest invasive species are no longer confined to one country or region . The increase in travel, trade and transport as well as climate change have made invasive species a growing transnational problem. Invasive species are spreading quickly from one country to another and may cross continents. Sharing knowledge with people beyond one's border is therefore essential.

To tackle this growing threat, FAO helped to establish two networks in Africa and the Asia-Pacific. The networks are enabling people to share knowledge on how to detect, prevent, monitor, eradicate and control forest invasive species.

Forest invasive species are plant or animal species non-native to a specific forest ecosystem, whose introduction does or is likely to cause ecological destruction, economic loss or detrimental social effects including harm to human health.

Outbreaks detected and contained
In Africa, the Forest Invasive Species Network for Africa (FISNA) helps Sub-Saharan countries to share information on latest pest outbreaks and provides contact names from the reporting country. Such alerts are made available through a Web site and a mailing list, while issues relating to containment and potential threat of new pests are highlighted through periodic technical meetings and reports.

"Since inception of this network in 2004, information about six recent pest introductions into Africa have been published on the Web site, thus alerting countries of potential threat and connecting them to people who can provide technical guidance," said Clement Chilima of the network's secretariat.

In the Asia-Pacific alone, the damage caused by invasive species to the environment and the control measures amount to US$200 billion annually, according to FAO.

With 32 member countries, the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN) regularly holds workshops, issues monthly newsletters on the latest outbreaks, shares workshop reports and proceedings, and manages an email listserv to enable countries to request help from an expert or share knowledge on forest invasive species.

A workshop on the coconut leaf beetle, which had invaded 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, have helped the participants to identify and understand the severity of the problem and to influence authorities in their countries to take necessary steps to prevent the spread of the leaf beetle or contain the problem. Likewise, a workshop on the eucalypt rust disease, which is currently restricted to South and Central America and the Caribbean, has helped to raise awareness on the potential spread to the Asia-Pacific. As a result, the exchange of eucalypt germplasm is done under strict quarantine regulations to keep the pathogen out of the region.

"Overall, the network has been successful in bringing the issue of invasive species to the forefront and convincing policy makers and foresters that any failure in the timely and efficient handling of the problem will lead to ecological disasters and loss of biodiversity," said K.V. Sankran, coordinator of the Asia-Pacific network.

Similar networks are now being proposed for the Near East and the Southern Cone countries of South America.

How to improve and connect these networks, and how to strengthen country capacity to conform with the phytosanitary standards set by the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) will be debated at the upcoming Committee on Forestry (13-16 March ).