Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme

Invasive Species

The Pacific is biologically unique, because the isolated islands provide ideal conditions for the evolution of new species. As a consequence, Pacific islands have high numbers of "endemic" species - species that are restricted to only one or a few islands and found nowhere else in the world. Birds and plants illustrate this outstanding biological uniqueness – the Pacific has more than 400 endemic bird species, while about 30% of the native plant species are endemic. Many of the unique plants and animals of this region are amongst the most endangered in the world, mainly because the tiny sizes of most of the islands also means the total populations of many species are naturally very small, which makes them especially vulnerable to any disturbance. For this reason, most of the recently extinct species were from islands. The Pacific currently has about 25% of the world's threatened bird species and has already lost many species.

One of the key threats to species and island ecosystems worldwide is invasive species. Since the arrival of humans on Pacific islands, they have deliberately brought with them species that are useful for their survival. Unwanted species were accidentally introduced. Some of the unwanted species, and in rare cases useful species, get out of control and can cause enormous ecological, economic or health problems. These are called "invasive" species, also known as "pest" species. Invasive species are usually highly adaptable. They can live in a wide range of environments. They breed fast, spread easily, and quickly become widespread. When they arrive in a new country, they have usually left the diseases and predators that would have kept their numbers under control back in their home country.

The Pacific is a leader in using a regional approach to address invasive species. The Guidelines for Invasive Species Management in the Pacific, developed by SPREP and SPC at the request of and with the collaboration of its member countries, and endorsed by them in 2008, provides a framework for national and regional efforts to manage invasive species. The Pacific has also developed two networks for improving invasive species management in the region: the Pacific Invasives Partnership (PIP) is a coordinating body for international agencies that provide services to Pacific countries and territories, and the Pacific Invasives Learning Network (PILN) is a network for invasive species workers in the countries and territories themselves. The Invasive Species programme coordinates both networks and develops and manages multi-country invasive species projects. It further assists its member countries and territories to develop their invasives programmes and projects, such as by providing expertise and access to funds.