INTERNATIONAL Perspectives on Invasive Species

The Invasive Species Information Node has formed partnerships with international organizations such as the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) and The World Conservation Union's Invasive Species Specialist Group (IUCN-ISSG), and provides the US lead for the Invasives Information Network of the Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network, I3N. The ISIN provides representation at international invasive species conferences and contributes to the development of tools for invasive species information management such as the IABIN Invasives Information Network's I3N Database on Invasive Alien Species. The NBII ISIN also recently hosted the first meeting of the Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN) with funding support from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

Most of the invasive species in the United States are actually native to other parts of the world. Other countries also experience problems with invasive species that are native to the United States. Some species such as Cactoblastis cactorum or cactus moth were intentionally introduced to some countries, but also spread by accident to other countries (including the United States) where they are now causing serious problems and posing a dangerous threat to native species, environmental resources, and the economy. NOTE: If you would like to find out more about Cactus moths in the United states, visit the Cactus Moth Monitoring & Detection Network.

Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP)

The Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) was established in 1997 to address global threats caused by Invasive Alien Species (IAS), and to provide support to the implementation of Article 8(h) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The NBII is collaborating with the GISP in continuing the development of the Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN). To learn more, visit the GISP Web site.

Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)

The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) is part of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of The World Conservation Union (IUCN). The ISSG is a global group of 146 scientific and policy experts on invasive species from 41 countries. The ISSG provides advice on threats from invasives and control or eradication methods to IUCN members, conservation practitioners, and policy-makers. The group's activities focus primarily on invasive species that cause biodiversity loss, with particular attention to those that threaten oceanic islands. The NBII is working closely with the ISSG on the development of invasive species profiles for the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). To learn more, visit the ISSG Web site. The NBII also hosts the only US mirror of the GISD.

Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN)

Information on species in their native habitats is very valuable to other nations trying to prevent that species from entering their country, or to manage an invasive population of that species. As the need for invasive species information grows, so does the number of information systems. However, if the information in those systems is not easily accessible the people that need it most may not be able to find it. For this reason, representatives from over 20 nations are working together to create a Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN). This network will provide a common gateway for information sharing among invasive species information systems. To learn more, visit the GISIN Web site.

IABIN Invasives Information Network (I3N)

The Invasives Information Network (I3N) is a Thematic Network of the Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN) that was initiated by the U.S. Geological Survey Center for Biological Informatics in 2001. Fourteen countries, covering most of the terrestrial area of the hemisphere, are in various stages of implementing I3N, which has been recognized by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Invasive Species Programme as an initiative to be supported. The I3N hosts and facilitates development of web-accessible, national catalogs of invasive species metadata. Tools at the disposal of the network include a cataloguing and data output tools (I3N Database on Invasive Alien Species template with XML output, and Web templates); a listserv; a virtual online community (hosted by NBII); and a bilingual web site that hosts data submitted by those participants not able to serve their own; a page containing information about and instructions for obtaining the I3N Database template; the I3N Search tool; information on I3N Standards and on creating XML and on serving data on the internet, fact sheets, contact information, sample XML output, and pilot project documents.

Invasive Species FROM the United States

Species native to the United States have been introduced intentionally and accidentally into other countries through the pet trade, the horticulture industry, the agricultural industry, in food aid shipments, and by many other methods of introduction.

Table of species introduced to other parts of the world either from North America or that are native in North America (coming soon)

Ten Invasive Species that the United States Exported fact sheet (National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species) (PDF)

Invasive Species FROM other Places

> Invasive Plants of Asian Origin Established in the United States and Their Natural Enemies (Volume 1). Hao Zheng, Yun Wu, Jianqing Ding, Denise Binion, Weidong Fu and Richard Reardon. USDA Forest Service - September 2004 - FHTET-2004-05.

References

> Stein, Bruce A. and Stephanie R. Flack, eds. 1996. America’s Least Wanted: Alien Species Invasions of U.S. Ecosystems. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia.
(1.5 MB) (PDF)

> Bioinvasions: Stemming the Tide of Exotic Species. Staff of World Resources Program and Amy Wagner. Updated 2001online at http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/features/bio_fea_invasives.pdf

> International Dimensions of Alien Invasive Species (Defenders of Wildlife)

> Invasive Alien Species and Biodiversity in India (2005). Current Science 88(4) (PDF)