PILN Activities and Achievements

• There are 8 PILN partners and 3 close collaborators. Monthly teleconferences have been held throughout, and a face-to-face meeting in 2006 and 2007;
  
• The original 6 founding teams have now expanded to 14, of which 13 are considered active. A further 4 countries have requested to join the network;
  
• A summary of network achievements over the pilot period is presented;
  
• All benchmarks for success have been achieved, except that relating to PILN teams securing additional funding;
  
• Impact indicators have been defined and initial data collected. Suggestions for revision are made;
  
• PILN is considered to have accelerated conservation action in the areas of weed management, strategic action planning and inclusion of marine invasive species;
  
• The PILN Report Card is presented;
  
• Two network meetings have been held: 22 – 26 May 2006 in Palau [hypolink to ], and 3 – 7 September 2007, in French Polynesia;
  
• The invasive species strategic action planning process has been initiated in 7 countries / states, and 3 of the resulting plans have been officially endorsed;
  
• 9 workshops/training events have been held with PILN member participation;
  
• 14 exchanges/individual training events have been held, involving 28 people;
  
• A total of 45 visits to 16 countries/states/territories was made by the coordinator;
  
• Participants satisfaction with the network was 100% (high and medium satisfaction) in 2006 and 90% (high and medium satisfaction) in 2007;
  
• The PILN website was created in January 2006 and has been updated 7 times;
  
• PILN Soundbites was distributed 11 times;
  
• Funding for the pilot programme was secured from a total of 10 donors, and a total of 49 reports were written for donors and partners. The total cost of the PILN pilot programme was US$832,600;
  
• Lessons learned from PILN as a model, its establishment and implementation are presented. Next steps and outstanding activities are identified;
  
• In conclusion, PILN has been found to be an effective way to build capacity among invasive species workers in the Pacific, recognising the growing body of expertise in the Pacific. It is a useful model for other sectors and regions.
  

A breakout group works on an invasive species action plan in Kiribati. © Jill Key.