The Global Invasive Species Programme
GISP
GISP PRESS RELEASE
22 January 2004 Cape Town, South Africa
A NEW CLEARING HOUSE FOR ALIEN INVASIVE SPECIES
LAUNCH OF GLOBAL INVASIVE SPECIES PROGRAMME (GISP) SECRETARIAT
TO HELP COMBAT THREAT OF ALIEN INVASIVES
Another step on the long road to dealing with the threat of invasive alien species (IAS) was taken today with the launch
of the international GISP Secretariat. Coinciding with the Southern Connections conference held at Kirstenbosch
Botanical Gardens, in Cape Town, the launch of the Secretariat also marks the start of a new phase for GISP when the
organisation, in partnership with GISP’s many international partner organisations, becomes the international clearing
house and authority on IAS throughout the world. Based on GISP’s partnership and networking role, the new Secretariat
will act, essentially, as the international information hub for GISP’s Phase II roll-out by providing a networking and
enabling facility for various national, regional and international IAS-focused programmes and organisations.
Guest speaker at the launch, Dr Kathy MacKinnon, Lead Biodiversity Specialist in the Environment Department of the World
Bank, drove home the message about how critical IAS issues have become. For example, one third of Africa’s grain is
destroyed by invasive rats while the water hyacinth is the continent’s most costly and damaging aquatic weed, known to
cause the collapse of entire aquatic systems in many African countries … all this on a continent that can least afford
to lose food and water.
What is GISP?
The Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) was established in 1997 to address global threats caused by IAS and play a
leading role towards the implementation of Article 8(h) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The GISP
mission is to conserve biodiversity and sustain human livelihoods by minimising the spread and impact of invasive alien
species (see notes for more information).
IAS are those species that become established in a new environment, then proliferate and spread in ways that are
destructive to human interests and native biodiversity. IAS are now considered to be one of, if not indeed the greatest
threats to the ecological and economic well-being of the planet.
The GISP Secretariat aims to draw upon a global partnership network of organisations, programmes and experts with an
interest in IAS issues. The Secretariat will also build on the work achieved and international projects launched during
GISP Phase 1. The many innovative and important projects and publications already developed, including the international
Toolkit for Invasive Species and a Global Strategy on IAS will be widely promoted.
To mark the Secretariat’s launch, GISP has produced a book on the growing danger of IAS in Africa. Entitled ‘Africa
Invaded’, the publication aims to raise awareness in Africa and beyond about some of the most prominent IAS issues
facing the continent. Copies are available from the GISP offices.
Today also sees the announcement of the new Chairperson of the GISP Board, Dr Mark Lonsdale. Internationally recognised
as a leading authority on biocontrol aspects relating to IAS, he is an entomologist by training and a science manager
with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (SCIRO) of Australia. Just four people run the
GISP Secretariat, reporting to the GISP Board, which is comprised of around 12 international recognised experts and
leaders in the IAS field, all of whom share a commitment to tackling issues related to IAS, and most representing
leading international environmental bodies. .
Why Cape Town?
Initial core funding for the establishment and running of the GISP Secretariat was granted by the World Bank on
condition that it would be established in a developing country. By invitation from the National Botanical Institute
(NBI) of South Africa, the GISP Board agreed to establish the Secretariat at the NBI offices in Cape Town, where the NBI
also currently provides GISP with administrative support.
-ends-
For further information, photographs from the launch and/or a copy of Dr MacKinnon’s presentation, please contact:
Kobie Brand, GISP Secretariat: +27 21 799 8839 / + (0) 83 406 7665
Karey Evett, Wired Communications: +27 21 439 4975 / + (0) 82 789 8932
www.gisp.org
Notes to editors
1. GISP seeks to:
- improve the scientific basis for decision-making on invasive species
- develop capacities to employ early warning and rapid assessment and response systems
- enhance the ability to manage invasive species
- reduce the economic impacts of invasive species and control methods
- develop better risk assessment methods and
- strengthen international agreements
- develop public education about invasive species
- improve understanding of the ecology of invasive species
- examine legal and institutional frameworks for controlling invasive species
- develop new codes of conduct for the movement of species and
- design new tools for quantifying the impact of invasive species.
2. The Fourth Southern Connections Meeting is being held at UCT from 19-23 January 2004, which brings together an
influential group of scientists from 22 countries on the southern continents. The organisers are Profs Jeremy Midgley
and William Bond from UCT, Prof Steve Chown from Stellenbosch, Dr Richard Knight from UWC and Ingrid Nanni from NBI,
Kirstenbosch. The inaugural meeting was held in Hobart, Australia, with subsequent meetings in Valdivia, Chile and
Christchurch, New Zealand. The size of the meeting has grown to include around 150 verbal deliveries over four days and
around 50 poster presentations.
Southern Connection is a group of scientists working on the southern
continents. Delegates include many different kinds of biologists and
earth scientists from 22 countries. Much of the scientific basis for biology and earth science comes from the northern
hemisphere, which differs considerably to that in the southern hemisphere. For example, in South Africa there was no
recent glaciation such as that which occurred in Europe and North America and where much was obliterated. Large animals
are very important ecologically and there are very diverse systems outside of the tropics – such as fynbos. Northern
hemisphere centric textbooks dominate the market and the minds of many journal editors in spite of their often being
inappropriate for the southern hemisphere. The theme of the 2004 conference is ‘Towards a Southern Perspective’ and an
optimistic goal is that a book of this title could be published in a few years time. There are many sub-themes to this
conference with numerous distinguished speakers attending. Some of the plenary speakers will draw comparisons between
north and south hemispheres – such as by Prof. Ian Woodward and Prof Kevin Gaston from Sheffield University, Prof Peter
Cranston from University of California and Prof Steve Chown from Stellenbosch University. Topics range from life on land
and in the sea and air to present day comparisons with that in the long distant past and include the range from small
(eg small mammals and genes) to the large (eg megaherbivores).
Two big symposia concern the devastating negative impact of alien plants and the use of genetics, especially DNA
analyses of closely related plants or animals, in understanding biogeographic patterns - known as phylogeography.
Smaller symposia concern fire, forest dynamics, marine ecology, phylogenies, conservation ecology, insect and bird
ecology as well as urban ecology. Conferences like these are important for many reasons. They raise the profile of
applied and theoretical issues from the south, they expose local students and scientists to great scientists and they
promote South Africa – and in particular the Cape – as a biological paradise.
ENDS